Malaysia may soon see a major shift in how long a Prime Minister can stay in office. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, which proposes limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years, was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The second reading is expected to take place next week, according to Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform).
Image credits: PMO, Perdana Leadership Foundation, The Business Times, MGTCA
M’sia to cap prime minister’s tenure at 10 years
At the heart of the Bill is a proposed amendment to Article 43 of the Federal Constitution. A new Clause (2A) would be introduced, stating that anyone appointed as Prime Minister under Article 43(2)(a) cannot hold the office for more than 10 years in total. This limit applies whether the tenure is continuous or accumulated over separate terms.
The proposed changes do not stop there. The Bill also seeks to add new Clauses (4A) to (4D) under Article 43.
Under Clause (4A), a Prime Minister would automatically cease to hold office upon reaching the 10-year aggregate limit. Clause (4B) further provides that if the Prime Minister steps down due to this limit, the Cabinet members would also cease to hold office.
Additional proposed amendments
To ensure there is no disruption in governance, the Bill sets out clear provisions on how the transition would work once the 10-year limit is reached.
Image credits: MalayMail
Under the proposed amendments:
- Clause (4C): The Prime Minister and Cabinet who have ceased holding office under the new provisions may continue carrying out their duties temporarily. However, their powers would be strictly limited to managing the day-to-day administration of the Government until a new Prime Minister is appointed under Article 43(2)(a).
- Clause (4D): Any period served as Prime Minister before the amendment comes into force will be counted toward the 10-year limit. However, time spent performing the functions of Prime Minister following the dissolution of Parliament under Article 55(2) of the Federal Constitution will not be included in the calculation.
The Bill also provides for consequential amendments:
- Clause (5) of Article 43: Amendments are proposed following the introduction of Clauses (4A) and (4B), specifically relating to the cessation of office of both the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.
If passed, the amendment would mark a significant constitutional development in Malaysia’s political framework
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