The proposed Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks to limit the tenure of the prime minister, does not infringe upon the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, according to Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz.
Faisal explained that the office of the prime minister is a constitutional post under Article 43(2)(a), which governs the procedures for the Agong to appoint a Dewan Rakyat member who commands majority confidence. He added that the Federal Constitution, under Article 159(1), is a living document, allowing for amendments without affecting royal prerogatives.
“Therefore, the amendment to Article 43 cannot be interpreted as affecting the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Conference of Rulers because it is not covered under Article 159(5),” Faisal wrote on X. His statement comes in response to opposition calls to postpone the bill, which some claim encroaches on royal authority.
Faisal noted that the bill is intended to prevent prolonged centralisation of executive power. “This amendment represents a significant step forward in institutional reform and should not be politicised by any party,” he said. He also cited the Agong’s Royal Address at the Opening of Parliament on 19 January, in which His Majesty expressed support for limiting the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years.
The bill, tabled for its first reading last Monday by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, is expected to undergo its second reading next week.
Under the proposed amendments, Article 43 would include a new Clause (2A) stipulating that a prime minister shall not hold office for more than 10 years in total, whether consecutively or otherwise. Additional Clauses (4A) to (4D) specify that a prime minister must vacate the office upon reaching the cumulative 10-year limit.
The bill aims to introduce a clear cap on executive power while maintaining the constitutional role of the monarchy.
