PKR man denies failure to pass bill sign of weak support for PM

2026-03-03 - 12:14

Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat failed to pass a constitutional amendment bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure, falling short of two votes of the required two-thirds majority of 148. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: The failure to pass the constitutional amendment bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years is not due to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim lacking parliamentary support, says Batu PKR chief Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi. In a statement, Asheeq dismissed claims by Batu Umno chief Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim that the outcome reflected weak support for the prime minister in the Dewan Rakyat. He said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) bloc delivered full support for the bill as all PH MPs were present and voted in favour of the amendment. “The facts are clear. The PH bloc gave 100% support to the 2026 Constitution (Amendment) Bill,” he said. Instead, Asheeq attributed the failure to secure the required two-thirds majority to a lack of commitment among certain Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs. He described it as inappropriate for BN leaders to say the Madani government was weak when BN had failed to ensure full attendance from its own bloc. Asheeq also stressed that the proposed bill was part of a broader institutional reform agenda, rather than a test of Anwar’s political strength. Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat failed to pass a constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure, falling short of two votes of the required two-thirds majority of 148. In the bloc vote, 146 MPs supported the bill, 44 abstained and 32 were absent. Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said today that Libaran MP Suhaimi Nasir was unable to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday because he had been hospitalised while Tapah MP M Saravanan, who was also absent, had to attend prayers. Apart from Suhaimi and Saravanan, the other absentees were Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Larry Sng (Julau), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Henry Sum Agong (Lawas), Riduan Rubin (Tenom) and former Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan (Keningau). Last night, Sng told FMT that he was unable to return to Parliament in time to vote for the bill because he was stuck in traffic, while Syed Hussin said he chose not to attend as he disagreed with the proposed law. Fahmi said of the eight absentees, three were from BN, one each from Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and two independents.