Two-term PM not possible unless...
Published on: Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Putra Jaya: Reform that requires amendments to the Federal Constitution could take longer to implement without a supermajority control of the Lower House, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.This may include Pakatan Harapan's (PH) long-term plan to limit the tenure of a prime minister to just two terms, he said after announcing the government's plan to place two key agencies under Parliament watch."For example, limiting to just two (terms) the prime minister's tenure, it can't be done because we do not have a two-thirds majority in Parliament," Dr Mahathir said. But for some things, if we can get the Opposition parties to agree to give their support, then we will start taking action that will require it to be passed by two-thirds."
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Earlier, Dr Mahathir announced the government's decision to transfer the Prime Minister's Office jurisdictional powers over the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Audit Department to a parliament select committee.The move was part of the new administration's institutional reform efforts to decentralise the prime minister's power to prevent abuse.PH said placing key institutions Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir asked detractors to show proof that he plans to block Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from taking over as prime minister.He said he had little interest in PKR affairs and shot down claims that he and Tun Daim Zainuddin were to obstruct Anwar should Rafizi Ramli fail to win the deputy presidency in the party's upcoming polls.
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"The accuser should show proof," he said when asked to comment on news reports about the allegation."I am not interested and stay away from interfering in the affairs of other parties," he added.
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Recently, Kapar MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid reportedly alleged that Anwar would face hurdles to replace Dr Mahathir if Rafizi Ramli fails to unseat Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali as PKR deputy president in the party election.Abdullah Sani reportedly claimed that Daim, who heads the quasi official Council of Eminent Persons, had a role in the so-called conspiracy to prevent Anwar from becoming prime minister.The allegation came amid rumours of a brewing discord between Anwar and Dr Mahathir, with the latter said to harbour distrust against the former and prefer Azmin to take his stead instead.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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