MOTION TO INTRODUCE BILL TO LIMIT PM TENURE CAN BE BROUGHT BACK AT ANY TIME - FAHMI

CYBERJAYA, March 3 (Bernama) -- A motion to reintroduce a constitutional amendment Bill to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years can be retabled for consideration at any time during the next parliamentary sittings, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said today.

“We can retable the motion at any time during the parliamentary sittings. There are two more meetings this year, around June and October, and we can bring it back,” he told reporters after the launch of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).

The NSRC, located in the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Tower 2, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

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Fahmi stressed that the Bill carries no implications for the government or the Prime Minister personally.

In fact, he said that some lawmakers had suggested the failure to pass the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 in Parliament yesterday signalled support for the Prime Minister to serve beyond 10 years.

“That is not what the Prime Minister wants, but that is the signal given, particularly by the opposition,” he said.

Fahmi said the constitutional amendment should be viewed as institutional reform aimed at strengthening governance and accountability, rather than as a partisan issue.

“This is about placing limits and restrictions on the Prime Minister’s term. Is accountability not important to all Members of Parliament (MPs)?” he asked.

On the attendance of MPs during the bloc voting, Fahmi said all representatives from the Pakatan Harapan bloc were present and voted in favour of the amendment.

However, eight government MPs were absent, including three from Barisan Nasional, one each from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Bangsa Malaysia, as well as two independents.

He said instructions had been issued for all government MPs to attend, and those absent must explain themselves to their respective party chief whips and the government chief whip.

“The Chief Whip, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, asked about it and his expression clearly showed dissatisfaction that some government MPs were still absent despite instructions for all to be in the chamber,” Fahmi said.

Fahmi also noted that 44 opposition MPs who were present but abstained demonstrated that they were unwilling to support restrictions on the Prime Minister’s tenure.

“We are not concerned about the opposition bloc’s attendance, but within the government bloc, it is the duty and responsibility of MPs to be in Parliament during sittings,” he said.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026  failed to secure the required two-thirds majority yesterday, with 146 MPs voting in favour, 32 absent, and 44 abstaining.

Any amendment to the Federal Constitution requires the support of at least 148 MPs.

-- BERNAMA