Analysts laud the proposal to limit a prime minister’s tenure to two terms, saying this will give room for new leaders to bring fresh ideas and ensure political stability.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said some leaders would want to stay on to avoid drastic changes to their policies.
This, he said, could lead to officials being hesitant to propose new ideas, knowing the stand of a long-time prime minister.
A term limit, he said, would bring a new prime minister and team with fresh ideas.
“When a prime minister has been in power for decades, the concentration of power is strong and outsiders or ministers find it difficult to introduce new policies. A term limit opens up opportunities for new leadership,” he told the New Straits Times.
Azmi was commenting on Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s misgivings about term limits, citing the potential loss of capable leaders.
Tuan Ibrahim gave examples of Barack Obama of the United States and Joko Widodo of Indonesia, both of whom were admired presidents of their countries but could no longer serve because of a term limit.
Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor shared this view, saying the focus should be on performance.
Azmi said while there was
some truth in the statement, he believes that Malaysia does not lack capable leaders.
On policy continuity, Azmi said there was no reason why a new government would not continue a good initiative.
“But I think the most important thing when we place a term limit is to give a chance to other leaders and I am sure there are better leaders than Obama or Jokowi in this case,” he said.
International Islamic University of Malaysia political analyst and ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said Malaysians should not be stuck in the mindset that we have “only so many talented leaders”.
“I would argue that with a term limit, political parties will be pushed to think about developing the next generation of leaders. This will ensure the stability of political parties, preventing them from being personality-centred,” she said.
Syaza said term limits were better
“If we have term limits, then at least we can indirectly allow younger leaders to take over. I prefer a democracy that safeguards the people rather than one or two individuals,” she said.
Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Social Sciences lecturer Professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the two-term limit would strengthen institutions, not individuals.
“Performance is important, but relying on it can be subjective and vulnerable to manipulation.
“Term limits ensure political stability, encourage leadership development, and protects democratic norms beyond any individual,” he said. By Aliza Shah
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