Post by : Shakul

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat today failed to pass a constitutional amendment that would limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years, falling just short of the required two‑thirds majority. The amendment bill secured 146 votes out of 222, but needed at least 148 to be adopted.

The vote came amid unusually high absenteeism, with 32 Members of Parliament absent and 44 present but abstaining from voting. The result meant the proposed reform could not proceed, drawing reactions from both government and opposition lawmakers.

The constitutional amendment was part of a broader reform agenda that included proposals to separate the roles of the Attorney‑General and the Public Prosecutor. Both bills were introduced for debate and required a two‑thirds majority to pass.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had tabled the bill, stating that limiting the prime minister’s term would strengthen democratic norms without diminishing the constitutional powers of the monarch or Parliament. However, divisions within Parliament and concerns about the content of the reforms made it difficult to reach consensus.

Opposition members had earlier called for amendments and improvements to the proposed bills, including ensuring checks and balances and maintaining the independence of legal institutions. Efforts by civil society organisations also urged MPs to support the term limit as a step toward reform.

With the failure of the amendment today, the reform effort to cap the prime minister’s tenure at 10 years will need renewed negotiation and political support before it can be re‑introduced in future sessions of Parliament.

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