KUALA LUMPUR, February 24 — The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, seeking to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to a cumulative maximum of 10 years, was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), said the second reading is expected next week. The Bill proposes amendments to Article 43 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia to introduce a new Clause (2A).
Stating that no individual may hold the office of Prime Minister for more than 10 years, whether continuously or otherwise. Under the proposed changes, a Prime Minister who reaches the 10-year limit will automatically cease to hold office, along with the entire Cabinet.
However, both will continue in a caretaker capacity to ensure administrative continuity until a new Prime Minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The amendment will take into account any prior years served before the law comes into force.
But excludes time spent as caretaker following a parliamentary dissolution. As a constitutional amendment, the Bill requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament to be passed.
