Electoral reform group Bersih has criticised the opposition for abstaining from a vote on a constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years.
Bill Falls Short in Parliament
The Dewan Rakyat failed to pass the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 today after it did not secure the required two-thirds majority. In the bloc vote, 146 MPs supported the bill, 44 abstained, and 32 were absent. The amendment needed at least 148 votes to succeed.
It was later noted that eight MPs from the government side were among those absent.
Bersih chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz questioned the opposition’s decision to abstain. He stressed that the proposed law served the best interest of the country and should not be influenced by political differences.
Call for Institutional Reforms
“We shouldn’t allow our political differences to influence our decision to vote for or against a bill,” Faisal said. “Voters and civil society want to see institutional reforms.”
Last week, Bersih had urged MPs from both sides to back the bill, describing it as a key mechanism to prevent authoritarian tendencies and the excessive concentration of power.
Opposition MPs, particularly from PAS, expressed concerns that the amendment might encroach on the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. They argued that the king holds the ultimate authority in appointing the prime minister.
They also called for a clearer separation between the roles of prime minister and finance minister.
Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan, the Kota Bharu MP from Perikatan Nasional, suggested adding caveats to ensure the king’s discretion remains unaffected.
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said rejected claims that the amendment would undermine the king’s powers. She clarified that it simply adds a new condition to the prime minister’s office and does not affect the rights of the Malay rulers.
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