A constitutional amendment to cap the prime minister’s tenure at 10 years failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in parliament.
PETALING JAYA: A bid to cap the tenure of Malaysia’s prime minister at 10 years fell short in the Dewan Rakyat today, falling just two votes shy of the required two-thirds majority.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, tabled for its second reading by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, received 146 votes in favour, with 44 MPs voting against and 32 absent—leaving it short of the threshold required to amend the Federal Constitution.
Announcing the results, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the tally did not meet the two-thirds majority, a declaration met with cheers and applause from Opposition MPs.
The vote also marked the first time this Bill, which proposes an amendment to Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, was tabled, and it failed to advance to a third reading and eventual approval.
The Bill had been presented for its first reading last week by Datuk Seri Azalina, while the second reading was carried out by Anwar followed by a debate involving Members of Parliament.
The failure to pass the amendment casts uncertainty over another crucial amendment expected to be tabled tomorrow, which seeks to separate the roles of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor—a proposal that also requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Had it passed, the amendment would have imposed a strict decade-long limit on the premiership—whether served consecutively or in separate terms—and required the prime minister and Cabinet to step down once the cap was reached, while allowing them to remain temporarily in a caretaker role until a successor was appointed.
Earlier, Anwar had described the Bill as a decisive step to strengthen institutions and entrench accountability at the highest level of government.
He stressed that the proposed limit would not affect the prerogative powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong nor alter the fundamentals of Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy.
“Within the Federal Constitution, the appointment of the prime minister depends on the confidence of the majority in the House,” Anwar said.
“While the Constitution does not currently specify term limits, the office holds immense responsibility in national administration.”
He emphasised that the reform was not directed at any individual but aimed at reinforcing governance structures.
“These term limits are not intended to weaken the executive but to bolster legitimacy, public trust and the stability of our democratic system. It is an investment for future generations to ensure leadership remains anchored in the people’s mandate and accountability.”
The Bill, comprising eight clauses including a new Clause 2A under Article 43, would have imposed a strict decade-long cap on the premiership, whether served consecutively or in separate terms.
The prime minister and Cabinet would have been required to step down upon reaching the limit, remaining temporarily in a caretaker role until a successor was appointed.
Drawing on international precedent, Anwar cited post-apartheid South Africa under Nelson Mandela, where presidential term limits were introduced to reinforce democratic principles and prevent concentration of power.
