Dr M: Plan to limit PM’s tenure may be put on hold

The plan to limit the prime minister’s tenure to two terms may be put on hold, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir said.

This, he said, are among the reforms that would have to be postponed until Pakatan Harapan has amassed sufficient support in the Parliament.

"Among the things that we might not be able to do are those that require amendments to the (Federal) Constitution.

"It can't be done because we do not have a two-thirds majority in Parliament. But for some things, if we can get the opposition parties to agree to give their support, then we will start taking action that will require it to be passed by two-thirds," he told reporters during a press conference after chairing a special cabinet meeting on anti-corruption earlier today.

Citing the limit on the prime minister’s tenure as an example, Mahathir said he will talk to the opposition parties soon.

"For example, when we say we want to have PM only for two terms, we should have certain powers in Parliament. Some of these things require amendments to the constitution.

"This is among the things that we may have to postpone until we have sufficient support."

When asked by a reporter if Harapan has discussed with the opposition parties to agree on amendments that have been planned, Mahathir replied "We decided this just now. After this, I will talk to the opposition".

Among Harapan's manifesto when they were going for the country's 14th general election were to limit the term of the prime minister post to two terms and to alienate the finance minister’s post from the prime minister’s portfolio. 

'Dropping projects that can be dropped'

Meanwhile, on contracts with China involving several mega projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), he said the government was looking at "dropping projects that can be dropped," and to modify those contracts that can be modified.

For those that can't be dropped due to contracts agreed by the previous administration, he said the government might have to postpone them. 

"Where we can drop the project, okay we will do. We may have to postpone some projects because we have agreements. And to breach the agreements will cost us a lot of money.

"Where we can modify, we will modify. But the most important thing is for us to save money. The previous government has entered into huge borrowings and we have to reduce the borrowings, otherwise, if we don't service the borrowings, we will go bankrupt," said Mahathir.

Mahathir had in an interview with The Associated Press reiterated Malaysia's intentions to negotiate the cancellation of two China-backed infrastructure projects. 

The projects signed by the previous BN administration were the ECRL, and two pipeline projects under the Finance Ministry unit Suria Strategic Energy Resources Sdn Bhd.

Mahathir's administration has thus far suspended Chinese-backed projects worth close to RM90 billion, including the RM80 billion ECRL to be built by state-owned Chinese Communications Construction Company.

The two pipeline projects - the Multi-Product Pipeline and the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline - are worth RM9.4 billion. They were awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau.

-Mkini