Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday (January 5) that his government will introduce legislation to limit the prime minister’s term to a maximum of two terms, or 10 years.
The statement was delivered in a speech before hundreds of civil servants in Putrajaya, following a special Cabinet meeting that discussed the government’s national policy direction at the start of the year.
The proposed term limit is part of a broader package of institutional reforms that the government plans to bring to Parliament this year.
Anwar also confirmed that the administration will table bills to separate the powers of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, establish an ombudsman’s office, and introduce a Freedom of Information law.
“Everybody has their limits. The government chief secretary cannot stay forever,” Anwar said.
“This applies to everyone, including the prime minister.”
Anwar emphasized that the term limit is intended to prevent the excessive concentration of power over extended periods and to create space for leadership regeneration at the national level.
Long-Standing Reform, New Context
Historically, Malaysia has had no term limits for the prime minister. A prime minister can remain in office as long as he or she retains the support of a parliamentary majority.
This system allowed Mahathir Mohamad to lead Malaysia for 22 years until 2003, before returning to office in 2018. Tunku Abdul Rahman served for approximately 13 years, while Najib Razak held power for nearly a decade before losing the 2018 general election as he sought a third term.
Anwar reiterated that term limits are necessary to ensure that national leadership does not remain concentrated in a single figure for too long.
“If we give someone a term limit and they can carry out their duties, then it’s better that we then hand over the role to the next generation,” he said.
The bill to limit the prime minister’s term will be tabled when Parliament reconvenes later this month, alongside legislation on the separation of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor roles, the Ombudsman Bill, and the Freedom of Information Bill.
In the same speech, Anwar also made a lighthearted remark to the civil servants. “Those who clapped, please take down their names,” he joked.
Political Pressure Amid the Unity Government
The reform announcement was made amid growing political pressure on the unity government led by Anwar.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition has faced criticism over the slow implementation of its reform agenda, particularly from urban voters.
In the Sabah state election last November, PH secured only one seat. Its key ally, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), failed to retain all six seats it had previously won in the 2020 state election.
Analysts have linked the results to voter disappointment over corruption issues and the slow pace of structural reforms.
DAP, which holds 40 seats in the Dewan Rakyat and is the largest parliamentary contributor to the unity government, said in December that it would review its position in the government if no reform progress is made within six months.
Pressure has also come from within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a core component of the Barisan Nasional coalition. UMNO Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the party’s role in the government has forced it to compromise on sensitive issues related to race, religion, and the monarchy.
Some party members have even urged UMNO to withdraw from the government and explore cooperation with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), which is expected to lead the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition bloc.
