Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has proposed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim consider dissolving Parliament and calling a general election after the government failed to secure enough backing for a constitutional amendment to cap the prime minister’s tenure.
Zaid noted that the outcome highlights the difficulty of achieving broad political consensus on institutional reforms, suggesting that returning the mandate to voters provides a democratic solution. “If the government cannot obtain sufficient support for what it regards as an important reform, then the proper course is to dissolve Parliament and let the rakyat decide,” he told theSun.
The recommendation follows the government’s attempt to amend the Federal Constitution to impose a two-term limit for the prime minister, a measure that requires a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat but fell short last Monday.
He described the proposed amendment as largely symbolic rather than structural, pointing out that countries operating under the Westminster system generally do not impose term limits on prime ministers. “There is no country practising the Westminster model that limits its prime minister to two terms. The idea usually exists in presidential systems,” he explained, noting that in such systems, presidents are directly elected and have discretion in appointing Cabinet members.
“In Malaysia’s parliamentary system, voters elect MPs, from whom the Cabinet is formed. Accountability exists through Parliament and elections, in which governments could be removed if they lose lawmakers’ or voters’ support,” Zaid added.
He also acknowledged that the Opposition had raised valid concerns about the amendment, cautioning that merely capping the prime minister’s tenure may not lead to meaningful change.
