Bill to Limit Prime Minister’s Tenure Ready for Second Reading, Says Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — A Bill to limit the tenure of the Prime Minister is ready for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said confirmed today.

Speaking to reporters after launching the Public Opinion Survey on the Drafting of the Coroners Bill, Azalina stated that the decision on whether to table the proposed legislation during the upcoming parliamentary sitting rests with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Leader of the House.

Azalina emphasized that both the Prime Minister term limit Bill and a separate Bill to bifurcate the roles of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP) involve amendments to the Federal Constitution, requiring a two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass.

“Since both Bills involve amendments to the Federal Constitution, we need a two-thirds majority. The same applies to the separation of the roles of the AG and PP, which also requires a two-thirds majority. So, domestic politics does play a role,” she said.

Appealing to lawmakers across all political parties in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, Azalina urged MPs to support the proposed reforms, noting that institutional separation will help mitigate public claims of selective or politically motivated prosecutions.

“I sincerely hope that members of the Dewan Rakyat, the Dewan Negara and all political parties will welcome these Bills because they bring more benefits than drawbacks. This is for our country,” Azalina added. “I do not want to hear people claiming, whenever they are charged, that there is some hidden agenda behind it. InsyaAllah, this separation of roles will inspire greater confidence, especially when the Public Prosecutor is appointed through a parliamentary process.”

–NMT