Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Malaysia aims to implement a slew of institutional reforms this year and next, including a two-term limit for the premiership, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on January 5, amid renewed calls for sweeping changes to tackle corruption and improve governance.
In a speech to civil servants, Anwar said his administration will table a Parliamentary bill to limit the tenure of prime ministers to a maximum of 10 years, a measure that was part of his ruling coalition’s election pledges in 2022.
“Everyone has a term limit. If given enough time to deliver, it is better for us to hand it over to the next generation,” Anwar said. He said a bill to separate the attorney-general’s role as the government’s top legal adviser from the function of leading public prosecutor will also be tabled when Parliament reconvenes for its first sitting of the year this month.
The independence of Malaysia’s attorneys-general has often been questioned as they are appointed by the Prime Minister, prompting concerns about political interference in the judicial process.