Malaysia PM Anwar pledges law to cap prime minister’s tenure at two terms amid reform pressure

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that his government will introduce legislation this year to limit the tenure of the country’s prime minister to two terms or a maximum of 10 years.

The pledge was made during a special New Year’s address on 5 January 2026, following a Cabinet meeting aimed at setting the government’s priorities for the year ahead.

According to Anwar, the proposed Bill is expected to be tabled during the next Parliament sitting at the end of January, alongside legislation to separate the powers of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor.

“Every position should have a term limit… this includes the prime minister’s,” Anwar said in Putrajaya, speaking to civil servants in the administrative capital.

“We will table a Bill to limit the term of a prime minister to 10 years. Everybody has their limits,” he added, noting that the principle should apply across senior government positions.

Under Malaysia’s current Constitution, a prime minister may remain in office for as long as they command the confidence of a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament.

Term limits central to Pakatan Harapan’s reform agenda

To introduce a formal term limit, Anwar’s government would need a two-thirds majority in the 222-seat chamber to amend the Constitution.

According to previous statements from opposition leaders, parties outside the government have expressed support in principle for efforts to curb the powers of the prime minister, potentially easing the path for the amendment.

The term-limit proposal has long been a core reform pledge of Pakatan Harapan (PH), the coalition led by Anwar, which has argued that excessive concentration of power in the executive enabled abuses under past Barisan Nasional-led administrations.

Tensions within coalition partners deepen

Despite PH’s longstanding advocacy, the reform had seen little progress in the two years since Anwar took office, fuelling criticism that institutional changes had been sidelined.

The latest announcement comes as Anwar’s unity government faces mounting pressure over the pace of reforms and recent electoral setbacks, particularly in urban areas.

In the Sabah state election held on 29 November 2025, PH secured only one seat, while its key ally, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), failed to win any of the eight seats it contested.

DAP had previously held six seats in the 2020 Sabah election, and analysts attributed its losses to voter frustration over corruption concerns and slow reform delivery.

With 40 parliamentary seats, DAP is the largest single contributor to Anwar’s governing bloc in the Dewan Rakyat, which comprises multiple coalitions.

In December 2025, DAP warned it could reconsider its role in the government if meaningful reforms were not delivered within six months.

Anwar’s unity government also includes the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which has faced internal pressure to withdraw support and align with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).

PAS is expected to take a leading role in the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition following the resignation of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin as PN chairman on 30 December 2025.

Ombudsman and information laws back on the table

In addition to the term-limit Bill, Anwar confirmed that the government would table legislation this year to establish an ombudsman office and enact a freedom of information law.

According to Anwar, the ombudsman would provide a formal avenue for public complaints against government bodies and officials, without exception.

“This is an institution that will give people the avenue to raise any complaints against anyone, from the prime minister all the way to the lowest civil servant,” he said.

The ombudsman proposal and freedom of information legislation have been discussed for more than two decades, dating back to the administration of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Anwar stressed the need for unity within his governing coalition, warning against political fragmentation amid rising tensions.

He criticised opposition figures for invoking ethnic rhetoric only after losing power, while urging his allies to remain cohesive and focused on reform.

The current unity government is expected to serve its full term, with the next general election constitutionally due by February 2028.