M'sian opposition MPs vote against term limit for PM, thought it would give Anwar 10 years in power

A Bill in the Malaysian parliament, meant to limit the tenure of a sitting Prime Minister to two terms, or 10 years, failed after opposition members of parliament (MP) allegedly misunderstood it.

They had thought that the Bill was to give incumbent prime minister Anwar Ibrahim 10 years in office instead, according to Malaysia's communications minister Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysiakini reported.

Intention of the Bill

In a rare failure, the Constitutional Bill, read for a second time in Malaysia's parliament on Mar. 2, fell two votes short of the 148 required to amend the Constitution.

Eight lawmakers were notably absent during the voting process.

Without a two-thirds majority, it could not be passed.

Anwar described the proposed amendment as a key institutional reform to ensure leadership renewal and to prevent the concentration of power in the executive, reported The Star.

"This effort is aimed at preventing a situation where a prime minister thinks he can do anything because he can remain in power forever," a government official said in a press conference on Mar. 4.

Misunderstanding

After the Bill's failure to be passed, Fahmi said the cabinet was given a briefing about a misunderstanding among opposition MPs, who allegedly did not back the Bill out of confusion about its intention.

"Some of them had told one of our ministers that they thought the voting process on that day was intended to give Anwar 10 years as prime minister," Fahmi said without revealing the MPs who supposedly misunderstood the Bill.

Videos surfaced on social media showing members of the opposition celebrating the failure of the Bill's passing on Mar. 2.

In one clip uploaded by Malaysian Islamic Party's (PAS) Afnan Hamimi, opposition MPs could be seen standing and cheering after the Bill failed to pass.

Another clip showed what was supposedly a group of PAS MPs joyously gathering in the centre of the chamber for a group selfie after the reading of the Bill.

The Bill will be tabled again in June, Fahmi said.

Top images via Afnan Hamimi/Facebook