Constitutional amendment for two-term PM tabled for first reading

PARLIAMENT | The government has moved to limit a prime minister's tenure to two-terms or 10 years through pushing for a constitutional amendment.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong (photo) tabled the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.

The Bill is subsequently expected to be debated in the next Parliament session in March next year.

According to the draft Bill, article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution will be replaced with the following: "The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of Representatives -

(i) who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House; and -

(ii) who has not at any time held the office of the Prime Minister for two terms of Parliament.

Last October, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that the government had plans to limit the tenure of the prime minister, menteri besar as well as chief ministers to two terms.

The constitutional amendment to limit the terms of these office-bearers is aimed at curbing excessive powers of a prime minister and the other office-bearers.

The move is also among the promises made by Pakatan Harapan in its 14th general election manifesto.

In an immediate reaction, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Sim Tze Tzin lauded the move.

"A small clause in Parliament, a BIG step in Democracy! Today, Parliament tabled a constitutional amendment to restrict PM term to only two-terms.

"Clear evidence that Pakatan Harapan is continuing Reform as promised in Manifesto," he tweeted.

SimTzeTzin 沈志勤@simtzetzin

A small clause in Parliament, a BIG step in Democracy!
Today, Parliament tabled constitutional amendment to restrict PM term to only 2 term. Clear evidence that Pakatan Harapan is continuing Reform as promised in Manifesto.

8

12:05 - 3 Dec 2019

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At a press conference later, Liew explained that the amendment will only apply to prime ministers appointed after the date of gazette.

"This amendment does not effect the previous term of the current prime minister," he said.

Quizzed whether former premier Najib Abdul Razak will have a chance to return to power, Liew said: "This one (amendment) is not retrospective, this is prospective."

"So if he comes back then maybe the most he can hold is two-terms," he added. - Mkini