The Malaysian government must deliver meaningful reforms in 2026

THIS year, 2026, is by and large the fourth year of the 15th Parliament, which started on Dec 19, 2022, and of Malaysia’s Madani government, which started on Nov 24, 2022. This leaves less than 24 months to achieve institutional reforms if the administration serves its full term till Dec 18, 2027.

Unfortunately, reforms have often become subject of intensive fear-mongering, smearing, and even ethnoreligious demonisation – so much so that many reforms have either been abandoned or watered down even when reasonable win-win solutions could have been sought.

Abandoning reforms does not only cause the public to distrust parties and political leaders currently in power. It would likely also hurt the Opposition and its political leaders when they come into power next and encounter stronger public demand for reforms.

In this age of social media, separate closed-door consultations between the government and different stakeholders in solo – the current practice –  cannot effectively shield the government and the intended reform from populist and cynical attacks, some of which may even originate overseas.

Any backtracking by the government due to attacks would not only weaken its authority, but it might bury the reform for decades and further fuel public frustration.

In 2026, we urge the Madani Federal Government to adopt a bold strategy of public engagement, getting proponents of a reform to talk to its opponents and bystanders, so every concerned individual and group can take ownership of the reform, instead of blaming the government for doing too little or too much.

For each reform on which a broad national consensus has yet to be built, the government can facilitate public and cross-partisan deliberation with some of these instruments:

> Green paper, in which the government lays out potential options without committing to any.

> White paper, in which the government explains its favoured reform proposal to invite public responses.

> Parliamentary select committee, in which the draft Bill or policy is fine-tuned before being put to the vote in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

In 2026, we look forward to the completion or commencement of these 10 reforms under the mechanisms mentioned above.

Select Committee (before tabling of Bill)

> A 10-year term limit for the post of prime minister, necessitating an amendment to Article 43 of the Federal Constitution.

> Reform of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act to enable parliamentary oversight in the nomination of the MACC chief commissioner and via an annual report by the MACC for parliamentary debate.

> Reform of the Election Commission (EC), necessitating an amendment to Articles 113-114 of the Federal Constitution, to enable parliamentary oversight in the nomination of the seven election commissioners and via an annual report by the EC for parliamentary debate.

All these may be assigned to a new purpose-built special (ad-hoc) select committee or the Parliamentary Standing Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reforms.

White Paper (before tabling of Bill)

> The separation of the powers of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, necessitating amendment to Article 145 of the Federal Constitution, after extensive research and consultations undertaken by the Prime Minister’s Legal Affairs Bureau (BHEUU, Bahagian Hal Ehwal Undang-Undang).

> The Political Financing Act with a component of public funding, after much research and consultations led by the BHEUU and the preparation of a draft Bill by the All Parties Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Political Financing (which has been in the works since 2024).

While stakeholder and expert consultations have been carried out on the above matters, the public and all parliamentarians deserve to know the government’s proposals before any Bill is pushed through Parliament.

Green Paper (before formulation of any policy or legal changes)

> The need and viability of an absentee voting facility – which can be postal voting, distant early voting, or in other forms – for voters in Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan, and the peninsula who have to be away from their region on polling day.

> The demand for, desirability of, and proposal for the expansion of Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara seats and their allocations to Sarawak, Sabah, 11 peninsula states and the three Federal Territories.

> The equitable allocation of the Constituency Development Fund for all elected representatives regardless of party affiliation at both the federal and state levels.

> Attaining a minimum 30% women representation in the Dewan Rakyat and the 13 state legislatures via innovations in the electoral process, electoral system or public funding.

> Democratic representation and elected government for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

Green papers mean that the government does not commit itself to any proposal or position but facilitates public deliberation by structuring the debate around a few viable options for benefit and cost considerations. This is useful to advance reforms without imposing any solution before a broad-based consensus emerges.

Looking back, we register our appreciation for the Madani government and the support of all parliamentarians from various parties on the attainment of the following institutional and legal reforms since November 2022:

> The Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023, in force since July 4, 2023.

> The Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023, in force since Jan 1, 2024

> The amendment of Articles 15, 15A and 26 and the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution, primarily to expand citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers, passed by Dewan Rakyat on Oct 17, 2024, yet to come in force.

> The Malaysian Media Council Act 2025, in force since June 14, 2025.

> The Parliamentary Service Act 2025 and the amendment of Articles 56-57 of the Federal Constitution – granted royal assent on July 9, 2025, yet to be implemented.

> The strengthening of parliamentary select committees by making these ministry-focused committees permanent and expanding the maximum membership of each committee from nine to 12, with the amendment of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders on Aug 12, 2025.

This letter is endorsed by the following NGOs and civil society organisations:

Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama)

Agora Society Malaysia

All Women's Action Society (Awam)

Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)

Bait Al Amanah

Borneo Komrad

Buku Jalanan Chow Kit

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)

Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED)

Community Action Nexus Berhad

Dewan Perhimpunan China Melaka ⻢六甲华⼈⼤会堂

Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Negeri Sembilan 森美兰华⼈⼤会堂

DUROA Zone B1

ENGAGE

Family Frontiers

Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan

Friends of Bukit Kiara

Gabungan Darurat Iklim Malaysia

Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia (GBSM)

Global Bersih

Ikatan Anak Muda Tawau (Ikat)

Iman Research

Institute for Research & Development of Policy

Kemban Kolektif

Lawyer Kamek

Liga Rakyat Demokratik

LLG Cultural Development Centre 林连⽟基⾦

MANDIRI

Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya

Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS)

Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF）

National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (HAKAM)

PACOS Trust

Penang Women Development Corporation (PWDC)

Pergerakan Orang Wanita. Empowerment and Revolution (POW.ER)

Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran)

Persatuan Bertindak Pilihan Raya Bebas Dan Saksama (Tindak)

Persatuan Kebajikan Kelestarian Komuniti Kuala Lumpur/ Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development Association (KLRA+SD)

Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (ROSE) Sarawak

Persatuan Rimba Komuniti Shah Alam

Pertubuhan Solidaritas

PurpleLily

Pusat Kommuniti Masyarakat (KOMAS)

Rasuah Buster

Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR)

Sabah Entitlement & Equity Now (SEEN Org)

Sabah Youth Movement

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur

SIS Forum (Malaysia)

Society of Entrepreneurial Educational Development

Suara Mahasiswa UMS

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)

Sustainable Petaling Jaya Association

Tenaganita

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih)

The Federation of Chinese Associations, Johor State 柔佛州中华总会

The Institute For Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas)

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) 吉隆坡暨雪兰莪华⼈⼤会堂

The Sarawak Initiatives

Undi18

United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) 董总

Vokal Sejiwa

Women's Centre for Change, Penang (WCC)