Putrajaya:<Text>

The introduction of legislation to limit the Prime Minister's term of office to 10 years can strengthen a culture of democratic leadership and prevent an administration from leaning towards autocratic rule, academics said.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani stated that the move can also improve the system of checks and balances in the country's administration. He emphasized that a law limiting the Prime Minister's tenure would provide clearer guidance for the country's administrative system and create space for a more orderly and healthy transition of leadership.

Mohd Azizuddin highlighted that the opportunity to look for other leaders must be opened because, in a democratic system, choices should always be given to other capable individuals who can govern better. He noted that limiting the tenure of a head of government is a n orm in many democratic countries and its implementation in Malaysia is expected to positively impact national governance, particularly in terms of accountability and leadership renewal.

This view was supported by geostrategy expert Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, who described the proposal to limit the Prime Minister's tenure to two terms as a justified institutional reform and aligned with the practices of mature democracies. Azmi, who is also a Fellow of the National Professors Council, mentioned that a term limit is necessary to prevent the concentration of power in a single individual for too long, which could potentially weaken the system of checks and balances in governance.

Azmi also proposed that such term limits should be extended to the state level, involving the positions of Menteri Besar and Chief Minister, to ensure consistency between the federal and state systems.

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Faculty of Social Sciences and Huma nities director Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali noted that the two-term limit is a practice that has long been implemented in many countries, including the United States and Indonesia, and has proven to be consistent with democratic principles. He remarked that a two-term period is considered sufficient for a Prime Minister or head of government to implement the agenda and mission of their administration based on principles of good governance.

Mazlan warned that if a leader remains in office for too long without a term limit, there is a risk of abuse of power and violations of the principles of integrity and transparency. By limiting the tenure to two terms, it serves as a control mechanism against the possibility of abuse of power by the chief executive.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the tabling of a bill to limit the Prime Minister's tenure when delivering his New Year Message 2026 at the monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya this morning. The proposal is among several institutional reform initiatives to be brought to the next parliamentary session.