The opposition has rejected accusations that it was responsible for the failure of the Prime Minister’s term limit bill in the Dewan Rakyat, arguing that the shortfall was due to the government’s inability to secure sufficient support from its own MPs.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the proposed legislation to cap the Prime Minister’s tenure at 10 years was not voted down by the opposition. Instead, he said, it fell short because of abstentions and absences among government lawmakers.
“If you examine our speeches in the Dewan, we supported the principle of limiting the Prime Minister’s term, but with certain conditions. When those concerns were not addressed, we chose to abstain. Abstaining is not the same as rejecting,” he told reporters at Parliament.
Hamzah dismissed claims that opposition MPs were obstructing the bill, noting that the government commands 154 seats in the House. He stressed that it was the ruling coalition’s responsibility to ensure adequate attendance and voting discipline, especially for constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority.
“If you have the numbers, you must ensure your MPs are present. It is not for you to blame others when your own members do not vote,” he said, adding that simple coordination could have avoided the setback.
He suggested that the government should have confirmed each MP’s availability ahead of the vote, particularly given the high threshold required for constitutional changes.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, tabled for its second reading by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, secured 146 votes in favour, 44 against, with 32 lawmakers absent. The outcome left the bill two votes short of the required two-thirds majority to amend the Federal Constitution.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul subsequently announced that the motion had failed to meet the constitutional threshold, a decision that drew applause from opposition members in the chamber.
Hamzah maintained that the opposition remains prepared to back reforms that serve the national interest but said it would not accept being blamed for what he described as shortcomings in the government’s floor management.
