Trending 
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced plans to introduce legislation this year that would limit the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years or two full terms.
Delivering a special New Year’s address to cabinet members and civil servants, Anwar emphasised the importance of leadership renewal, stating that power should eventually be handed over to the next generation to prevent stagnation.
Ending the Era of Perpetual Power
The proposed bill fulfils a core campaign promise made by Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition during the 2022 elections.
Currently, Malaysia has no such restrictions, a fact highlighted by the political longevity of former leader Mahathir Mohamad. Mahathir served for 22 years in his first stint and famously returned to power at age 92 in 2018.
Anwar signalled that this era of indefinite rule must end, noting that “everyone has a term limit” without exception.
Credit: BSS
Anti-Corruption and Transparency Measures
In addition to term limits, Anwar outlined two other major legislative priorities aimed at systemic reform:
Freedom of Information Bill: A new law to increase government transparency.
Ombudsman Office: A dedicated office to handle public grievances and ensure that every official—including the Prime Minister—remains accountable.
Context of Accountability
These reforms arrive amid a heightened focus on political integrity in Malaysia. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak was recently sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison for his role in the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund scandal, following a previous six-year sentence.
Anwar’s proposed ombudsman is intended to ensure such abuses of power are more easily challenged by the public in the future.
The term limits bill is expected to be tabled during the upcoming parliamentary session, though a specific date has not yet been set.
