The government will table a bill to cap the prime minister’s tenure at 10 years, alongside laws on an ombudsman and freedom of information, in the current parliamentary session.
PUTRAJAYA: The government will convene a meeting of all political party leaders to discuss a bill to cap the prime minister’s tenure at a maximum of ten years or two full terms.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, stated the meeting will be held soon as the bill is expected to be tabled in this parliamentary session.
“I have to meet all the party leaders so that we can get more than a two-thirds majority,” she told the media after her 2026 New Year Message at the department.
Azalina clarified that the bill would not apply to the positions of chief minister or menteri besar.
She said the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) has conducted considerable study on the matter.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier said the bill is one of four new laws to be tabled as part of Parliament’s agenda for the year.
Three other bills will also be tabled covering the separation of the roles of the attorney general and public prosecutor, the establishment of an ombudsman, and freedom of information (FOI).
Azalina said all four bills will be tabled in February, following the debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address.
She emphasised these bills will steer the nation towards strengthening genuine accountability and public trust.
Azalina explained the freedom of information framework will grant public access to information.
It operates in tandem with the ombudsman bill to help combat corruption and improve the quality of public service.
“I consider the establishment of both the FOI and the ombudsman to be extremely important,” she said.
She added the BHEUU will expand its town hall sessions to gather feedback from various stakeholders.
