Mahathir can still be PM for another two terms says Guan Eng
Mahathir can still be PM for another two terms even though he has already been PM for 22 years, says Guan Eng, even if Pakatan passes a law to limit the PM’s term to just two terms
(FMT) – The proposed two-term limit for the positions of the prime minister, menteri besar and chief minister cannot be enforced retrospectively, says Pakatan Harapan (PH) deputy president Lim Guan Eng.
Lim said this was because PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad had served more than two terms as prime minister and would not be able to hold office again.
Mahathir is PH’s prime ministerial candidate but has said that he will vacate the position to make way for jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim once the latter is eligible to stand for election.
Yesterday, Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, announced that the term-limit proposal would be included in the opposition pact’s general election manifesto.
“China has chosen to remove the term limit for its president and it was welcomed by the US president. It looks like the two most powerful countries are on the same page.
“But we feel it is time to impose term limits… after several rounds of discussions with PH leaders, we have finally come up with this conclusion.
“This will be implemented from next term onwards. It cannot be made retrospective, then Tun Dr M cannot be PM,” he told reporters in Komtar today.
Lim added that ministers and state executive councillors were excluded from the proposed term limit.
He said the term limit would be made possible if PH wins a two-third majority in the coming polls.
Mahathir, who served as prime minister for 22 years, previously said two years was enough time for him to solve the problems left behind by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
There have been mixed reactions to PH’s decision to name Mahathir as its choice for prime minister if the coalition wins GE14.
Some, who hold him responsible for the decisions made during his 22-year tenure which eroded the independence of national institutions and curbed civil liberties, are against him holding power again.
Gerakan’s Tan Keng Liang was also reported as saying that the term limit should be enforced on Lim, who is currently serving his second term as Penang chief minister.
