01/02/2026

NATIONAL 3 theSun on Sunday FEB 1, 2026

10-year limit for PM tenure gets govt backing

Sabah Chinese independent schools to maintain priority on SPM KOTA KINABALU: Chinese independent schools in Sabah will continue to prioritise the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination as the main foundation of education before their students sit for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), said state Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib. The approach reflects the commitment of Sabah Chinese independent schools to ensure students master the national curriculum while also gaining additional advantages through the UEC, he said in a statement after receiving a courtesy visit from a Sabah Chinese Independent Schools Board delegation led by its chairman Datuk Au Kam Wah yesterday. He added that under the regulations of the Sabah Chinese Independent Schools Board, students are required to sit for the SPM examination before taking the UEC, a practice that differs from that of Chinese independent schools in Peninsular Malaysia. PETALING Recent developments within Perikatan Nasional (PN) suggest that internal power struggles, particularly within Bersatu, are driving proposals to restructure the coalition’s leadership, according to political analysts. Analysts said this included talk of abolishing the PN chairman’s post and introducing a new collective leadership mechanism. University of Malaya senior lecturer and political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said the moves cannot be viewed in isolation and are closely linked to behind-the-scenes manoeuvring by individuals surrounding Bersatu president and former PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. “I am of the view that there is a political calculation involving certain individuals very close to Muhyiddin, including advisers who help shape his political strategy.” “These individuals do not want Muhyiddin to lose power because if he does, they too will lose influence and their political future within Bersatu,” he told theSun . Mohammad Tawfik said this explains why every possible effort is being made to ensure Muhyiddin remains relevant and powerful within PN, even if it JAYA: Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Move aims to prevent excessive concentration of power, strengthen democratic system and enhance public trust in leadership institutions: Minister

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Vui Keong, then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law, tabled the Bill for its first reading. However, the second and third readings, which are necessary for the Bill to become law, were deferred to 2020. On Aug 26, 2020, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who was then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), withdrew the Bill before it could reach the second reading. The following day, on Aug 27, 2020, Takiyuddin stated that the government was not obliged to provide reasons for withdrawing any Bill, saying that it had originally been introduced by the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.

PETALING The government has backed a 10-year limit on the prime minister’s tenure under its ongoing institutional reform drive. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the move is an important step to strengthen accountability, checks and balances and constitutional based governance under the Madani government institutional reform agenda. “The decision was made at the Friday weekly Cabinet meeting. “The Cabinet thoroughly reviewed policy inputs, public feedback and recommendations submitted through holistic engagement sessions involving various stakeholders,” she said in a statement. Azalina said the proposed term limit aims to prevent excessive concentration of JAYA:

“Everyone has a term limit, the chief secretary to the government cannot be up to 10 years. It also applies to everyone. It is better for us to hand it over to the next generation.” Malaysia has never had term limits for its prime ministers, allowing them to serve indefinitely as long as they maintain parliamentary support. The country previously attempted to introduce a two-term limit for the prime minister, but the effort was abandoned.

power,

strengthen

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democratic and enhance public trust in national leadership institutions, in line with mature democratic practices at the international level. She said moving forward, the government will implement several related amendments to the Federal Constitution, which are expected to be tabled in Parliament during the current sitting. Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government has drafted a Bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure to a system

He said the approach has proven effective as candidates from Chinese independent schools in Sabah have consistently recorded excellent performance in the SPM examination, with average annual pass rates exceeding 90% over the past decade. – Bernama Power struggle driving calls for PN leadership restructure: Experts maximum of 10 years, or two full terms, which will be tabled in Parliament this year. He described the move as part of the government’s institutional reforms for the current parliamentary session. According to the Hansard, the official record of Dewan Rakyat proceedings, the proposal was handled differently under the administrations of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. On Dec 3, 2019, Datuk Liew Takiyuddin added that the withdrawal reflected the policy of the current government and confirmed that the Perikatan Nasional administration was not interested in pursuing the reform.

means restructuring the coalition’s top leadership framework. He said proposals such as abolishing the PN chairman’s post and creating a new position – PN presidential council chairman – could be interpreted as attempts to curb the rise of internal rivals within Bersatu. “This is essentially about containing internal threats, which I believe are led by (Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri) Hamzah Zainuddin,” he said, adding that the current internal rivalry involves Hamzah and Bersatu secretary general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali. Mohammad Tawfik said Mohamed Azmin is politically very close to Muhyiddin and that his standing within Bersatu and PN is heavily dependent on Muhyiddin’s continued leadership. “If Muhyiddin steps down from all positions, then the Azmin camp will effectively be wiped out within Bersatu and PN. Mohamed Azmin’s political ‘lifeline’ is tied to Muhyiddin.” He added that PAS, PN’s largest and most organised component, appears to be closer to Hamzah, which could further marginalise the Azmin faction should Muhyiddin relinquish power. “If Muhyiddin no longer holds any position in PN, it will be very difficult for Azmin’s team to go far politically,” he said.

Oh said Muhyiddin may not be ready to hand over power to PAS but prefer some form of collective leadership for PN. – BERNAMAPIC

an arrangement,” Oh said via WhatsApp. Oh pointed out that the balance of power within PN has shifted significantly, with PAS now in a stronger electoral position compared with Bersatu. “PAS could easily go it alone, while Bersatu still depends heavily

Meanwhile, Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said Muhyiddin may not be ready to hand over power to PAS. “It would appear that Muhyiddin would prefer some form of collective leadership for PN. PAS, however, seems reluctant to such

on PAS to canvass votes,” he said, He also suggested that Muhyiddin’s leadership is being quietly questioned not only by PAS but also within Bersatu itself. “Certainly, it is high time for him to go. I think both PAS and many within his own party are already looking beyond him,” he added.