Politics · Malaysia Bureau
PM directs further consultations on constitutional reform bills
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the de facto law minister to hold additional talks on proposed legislation to separate the roles of Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, and to impose term limits on the prime ministerial office. The directive follows feedback from the Conference of Rulers.
LSN Malaysia ·
Anwar Ibrahim has tasked Azalina Othman Said, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for legal affairs, with conducting further consultations on constitutional amendment bills that would reshape the country's institutional framework.
The bills under discussion would separate the combined roles of Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor into distinct positions, and establish limits on the length of time any individual can serve as Prime Minister. These measures represent significant structural changes to Malaysia's constitutional governance.
The Prime Minister's instruction to extend consultations comes after the Conference of Rulers, the constitutional body comprising Malaysia's nine royal households, provided feedback on the proposals. The Rulers' input is considered essential for any constitutional amendments, which require their approval.
The move reflects the government's commitment to building broad consensus before proceeding with constitutional reforms. Such amendments typically require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and institutional support from the monarchy strengthens the likelihood of successful passage.
No timeline has been announced for the completion of the consultation process or the eventual tabling of the bills in Parliament. The government has signaled that all stakeholder feedback will be carefully considered before final legislative measures are presented.