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THE MADANI Government’s move to cap the prime minister’s tenure at no more than 10 years or two full terms has been framed by senior leaders as a trigger for far-reaching reform in national governance, even as differing opinions emerge over whether leadership limits should outweigh performance.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposal could usher in significant renewal within the country’s political system and prevent leadership stagnation.
He revealed that the idea was personally proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a special Cabinet meeting on Monday and received unanimous support from all ministers.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the limit is intended to avoid situations where a prime minister remains in office for too long, leading to leadership fatigue, even if performance remains strong.
He was speaking to the media after the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development’s New Year Address 2026 on Tuesday.
He added that a bill to legally enforce the prime ministerial term limit would be tabled in Parliament when it convenes on January 19.
Anwar had earlier announced in his New Year address on Monday that the bill would be presented in the upcoming parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, in Alor Setar, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the proposal carried both advantages and drawbacks, but stressed that the central issue should be leadership effectiveness rather than the length of time in office.
“If the prime minister’s performance is good and benefits the people and the country, it should not be a problem even if he serves many terms, up to 10 terms,” he said. “If the performance is not good, there is no need to wait until one term ends.”
Sanusi said a rigid term limit could potentially disadvantage the country, particularly if a capable leader appointed at a young age proves highly effective but is barred from continuing in office due to legal constraints.
“If a young leader is appointed prime minister at the age of 40 and performs well for the people and the country, we would be the ones at a loss if he is restricted and cannot be reappointed,” he said.
He also remarked that Anwar, who is currently 79, may be more suitably limited to two terms, noting that the prime minister would be around 85 or 86 years old by the end of a second term.
“Anwar is 79 years old now, so it is appropriate to limit him to two terms. If he serves a second term, he would reach 86 by the end of it. The issue here is not the length of time, but performance,” he said.
In his 2026 New Year address at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly in Putrajaya, Anwar confirmed that the proposed legislation would apply not only to the prime minister but also to other key positions, including the Chief Secretary to the Government, all of whom would be subject to a maximum tenure of 10 years.
Anwar said the principle behind the reform is that once an individual has been given a defined period to serve and has fulfilled their responsibilities, it is appropriate to pass the leadership baton to the next generation. - January 6, 2025