States urged to mirror Penang's two-term policy for chief minister
KUALA LUMPUR: States should follow Penang's lead in introducing term limits for chief ministers or menteris besar to improve governance, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran.
He was responding to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's comments on a federal plan to cap the prime minister's tenure, calling it a necessary reform. Kulasegaran said term limits reduce power consolidation and corruption while allowing younger leaders with fresh ideas to rise.
"Power is not permanent, and no one is indispensable. One cannot be in power forever. It is important to allow opportunities to others to lead," he told the New Straits Times. "The Kedah Menteri Besar (Sanusi) should also bear this in mind in contemplating whether the tenure of the Kedah Menteri Besar should be limited."
Penang was the first state to adopt a two-term limit for its chief minister in 2018.
He said states must consider legal hurdles and public opinion before making such changes. The Ipoh Barat MP added that states are free to align their laws with federal reforms. "We have seen many states in the past do this, such as after the Undi18 and anti-hopping amendments to the Federal Constitution," he said.
Yesterday, Sanusi said the prime minister's term limit proposal does not apply to states, as menteri besar appointments are governed by state constitutions. He said any such law must be approved by the state assembly before adoption. Sanusi said there was no urgency to adopt term limits, arguing capable leaders could be cut short.
On April 21, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the federal proposal would be shared with all parties. She said the reform would significantly impact Malaysia's political and leadership structures.
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