By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 10: The proposal to extend federal term limits to the Sarawak Premier and other State leaders warrants careful and balanced consideration, warned Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Stakan chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok, noting that imposing rigid limits could create a “start-stop” governance cycle that undermines long-term planning and momentum.
Sim said while leadership renewal is an important feature of any democracy, Sarawak’s unique development trajectory and constitutional position require stability, continuity, and long-term policy consistency.
“For a developing State like Sarawak, long-term strategies are essential for infrastructure development, human capital investment, and economic transformation,” he said in a statement today.
He was responding to a suggestion by Senator Abun Sui Anyit to limit the tenure of the Sarawak Premier and other state leaders to a maximum of two terms or 10 years, in line with the federal government’s recent move to cap the Prime Minister’s term.
Sim noted that Malaysia’s parliamentary and state legislatures operate under the Westminster system, where leaders such as a Prime Minister, Premier, Chief Minister, or Menteri Besar remain in office only as long as they command legislative confidence, maintain party and cabinet support, retain electoral legitimacy, and remain subject to judicial oversight.
These mechanisms, he argued, already provide robust checks and balances against the abuse of power.
He cautioned that fixed term limits risk turning leaders into “lame ducks,” discouraging policies whose benefits extend beyond their tenure and weakening accountability for long-term outcomes.
He also stressed that frequent leadership changes could dilute Sarawak’s negotiating strength in asserting and safeguarding its rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Continuity in leadership ensures institutional memory, strategic consistency, and sustained engagement with the federal government,” he added.
Sim suggested that Sarawak would benefit more from strengthening the scrutiny of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, independent enforcement institutions, and judicial autonomy rather than imposing strict term limits.
Abun Sui has recommended implementing the reform through amendments to respective state constitutions, arguing that it would prevent excessive concentration of power, enhance accountability, and strengthen democratic institutions.
On Jan 5, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that a bill to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to two full terms or no more than 10 years has been drafted and is expected to be tabled in Parliament this year.
The bill forms part of a broader package of institutional reforms, including proposed legislation to separate the powers of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, a freedom of information bill, and the Ombudsman Bill. — DayakDaily
