Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stated that the proposal to impose a 10-year maximum tenure for the Prime Minister’s office is consistent with the reform policy framework outlined in his ‘Membangun Negara MADANI’ initiative. This proposal, he emphasized, is not a novel concept.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister’s senior press secretary, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, clarified that the proposal aims to promote clean governance and a more structured political system while preventing the centralization of power, which can lead to corruption and abuse. Several countries, including Indonesia, have already adopted similar measures.
Tunku Nashrul highlighted that limiting a Prime Minister’s tenure considers the current and future geopolitical landscape, necessitating a commitment from all parties to facilitate fresh leadership and nurture new national leaders. His remarks were made during a daily briefing from the Prime Minister’s Office, broadcast live on Anwar Ibrahim’s and PMO Malaysia’s Facebook pages.
The Prime Minister also cautioned opposition members against misusing this proposal for racially charged political agendas, stressing that the position’s nature and role are clearly defined in the Federal Constitution. He assured that the term limit proposal aligns with these principles and is vital for strengthening democratic maturity.
Anwar urged Members of Parliament to thoroughly read and understand his book, ‘Membangun Negara Madani’, especially page 181 under the topic ‘Dasar Keutamaan Untuk Malaysia Yang Lebih Baik’, before making uninformed criticisms. Tunku Nashrul mentioned that the Prime Minister welcomes a responsible and constructive debate on this topic, encouraging all parties to contribute to developing a transparent and fair system.
During the briefing, Tunku Nashrul also updated on Anwar’s recent visits to Selangor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, where the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of cooperation between federal and state governments. Discussions focused on public welfare issues like infrastructure, education, healthcare, flood mitigation, and road projects, which will continue to be monitored by relevant agencies.
He further announced that Anwar’s upcoming visits this week will include Penang, Terengganu, and Sabah.