Malaysia has implemented new legislation to restrict the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms, a strategic move to enhance accountability and rein in executive powers. The country, located in Southeast Asia, previously had no limitations on the number of terms a premier could hold office.
Former leader Mahathir Mohamad served for a total of 24 years over two separate periods, from 1981 to 2003 and later from 2018 to 2020. The current Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, announced plans for a two-term limit in January amidst growing demands for addressing corruption and enhancing governance.
In their 2022 election manifesto, Anwar’s ruling coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), committed to enforcing a two-term limit for the premiership. However, there have been reports from local media criticizing the perceived sluggish progress in implementing reforms.
