Call by Malaysia’s DAP for 2-term limit for prime minister draws PAS’ rebuke

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the cabinet to study the Democratic Action Party’s proposal for a two-term limit

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Members of the Malaysian Islamic Party wait outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya for a decision by the federal court. Photo: AP

Published: 2:06pm, 20 Mar 2025Updated: 2:13pm, 20 Mar 2025

A proposal to limit the tenure of the Malaysian prime minister’s office to two five-year terms has reignited debate over who can be the country’s leader, with the largest opposition party pushing to restrict it to Malay Muslims to safeguard Islam’s position as the state religion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the cabinet to study a two-term limit after agreeing to the proposal from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), his coalition government’s largest party, which relies on support from ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians. The move comes after the DAP mooted the idea on Sunday at its general assembly.

However, the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), the largest party in parliament and the opposition bloc’s dominant partner, said any amendments concerning the prime minister’s office should entail racial requirements.

Bachok MP Syahir Sulaiman, political secretary to PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang, said the debate should be expanded to include racial and religious criteria, arguing the country’s leaders should “profess Islam”.

The Malaysian constitution currently makes no provision for term limits and who can be prime minister beyond the stipulation that appointment for the role is the sole discretion of the king, who must pick someone he believes has majority support in parliament.

Anwar and all of his nine predecessors since independence from the British in 1957 have been Malay Muslims due to the political reality of Malay-majority parties’ domination in parliament.