YOURSAY | PM shows no courage for institutional reforms

 

YOURSAY | ‘Acts to reform our enforcement agencies are what matter.’

PM's term limit, FOI among law reforms to be tabled this year

OrangePanther1466: These intended reforms are relatively inconsequential. For instance, limiting a prime minister’s tenure to 10 years is a double‑edged sword.

If you have a good prime minister, it would be a waste to let him go after 10 years. The rakyat should have the final say on the prime minister issue.

Splitting the roles of the attorney-general would be merely cosmetic if those in power still wield influence over the appointments of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor.

As for the Freedom of Information Act, it would require the cooperation of government agencies. They can easily refuse by giving excuses related to security concerns.

As it is now, some enforcement authorities routinely ignore legitimate directives, even from our courts.

Acts to reform our enforcement agencies are what matter - the MACC, the Royal Malaysia Police, and the Election Commission - to name a few.

So do not be excited by what Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced. These are just Mickey Mouse proposals. We are waiting for the more substantive ones.

Apanama is back: With the Official Secrets Act still around, what is FOI? Just a decoration.

What is the benefit of separating AG and the prosecutor when both will be under the PM? It will be even worse.

Anwar, you selectively choose safe reforms while showing no courage to go for institutional reforms such as the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), MACC, police, and judicial appointments. PM should NOT get involved in all these agencies.

Are you daring to remove yourself from that phrase "... acts on the advice of the prime minister (PM)?"

Constitutional supremacy: PM, Sir, we want institutional reforms.

At present, all the appointments to the MACC, inspector-general of police, the AG, Judicial Appointments Commission are made by the PM.

In the last about three years, there have been a lot of calls from various bodies that PM’s role in these institutions must be removed.

We want priority to be given to these suggested reforms, failing which in the 16th general election, we will show who is king.

KK Voter: I’ve seen Pakatan Harapan’s idea of reform so far - namely the anti-hopping law - so there will be no celebration until I’ve read the fine print and can see whether it was drafted with genuine reform in mind, or with enough loopholes to allow exactly what it is supposed to prevent.

By the way, is this PMX’s grand strategy for winning the next GE? Half-baked reforms, plus getting DAP and Umno to go at each other to regain communal support?

Truth be known: Since DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke gave PMX an ultimatum to reform within six months, he just gave some light appetisers to seal his mouth. We all know these are not what the majority of the voters wanted.

What about those reforms in MACC, police, the Education Ministry, judicial appointments, etc?

HJ Angus: I think limiting the prime minister’s term to 10 years is a step in the right direction. I accept that this government is almost a lame‑duck administration, as too many compromises have been made.

It’s like wanting to make authentic nasi lemak but now having to include ingredients for bubur chacha, plus many DNAA (dismissal not amounting to acquittal) decisions.

Anonymous: “A historic law to limit the term of the prime minister to 10 years will be among four reforms to be enacted in 2026 as the Madani administration attempts to deliver on its electoral promises.”

Though it is good, why only after 38 months in power? Is this the result of the Sabah election and the soon‑to‑come by‑election in Sabah?

If this action is an “after-the-fact” reaction, then it reeks of insincerity. Or is it a lame attempt to placate the non‑Malays, as Loke asked to give Madani another six months?

We are monitoring DAP. The party’s secretary-general, Loke, quoted the six‑month deadline on Dec 9, 2025.

PW Cheng: Regardless of who the prime minister is and how long the tenure is, it is meaningless if we are not determined to put an expiry date on corruption.

Corruption is the mother of all evils. It always spirals and attracts more evil. No country can progress or remain safe if corruption is tolerated. Eventually, the country will be doomed, as can be seen in all corrupt nations.

Unfortunately, Malaysia falls into the category of one of the most corrupt countries in the world. If we don’t put an end to corruption, corruption will put an end to Malaysia.

R_A_G: This looks very much like another episode of Madani theatre. Why the special announcement? Genuine reforms don’t need special limelight, roars, and thunder.

Honest and sincere reforms must be done, not staged like some circus act meant to impress. Lay out the dates for all reforms, not “sometime this year”. - Mkini