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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas-BN) has proposed an amendment to the constitution to disallow snap elections by mandating parliamentary terms complete their five-year cycle.
This is among the recommendations he hopes the government will consider as part of its reforms agenda, which is currently being implemented with the opposition.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Nazri said requiring a parliamentary term to run its five-year course has a number of benefits.
“For one, it allows better planning for the sake of the rakyat. Additionally, by calling for a (snap) election after three years, this will give the edge to the ruling party to use federal funds to their advantage.
“More than that, we will also be lying to the rakyat, because we will tell them that the lawmakers they vote for will represent them for five years, but then we hold an election about two years later,” he said when debating the royal address today.
Nazri said by enforcing the five-year term, this will also allow the Election Commission (EC) to better prepare itself for national polls, while allocations to conduct elections can also be disbursed annually across this period.
“This is why I feel we need to discuss and decide collectively that five years mean five years.”
Presently, the constitution stipulates that a parliamentary term shall not last longer than five years, but there are no provisions to mandate the terms be seen out.
On a proposal to limit the tenure of the prime minister to two terms (10 years), as part of the memorandum of understanding signed between the government and Pakatan Harapan (PH), Nazri said he is supportive of the move as this will limit the power of the chief of the executive.
He cited several African countries as examples of how power-hungry politicians would do everything within their means to remain in the top post, including by amending their constitutions.
“It is clear that two terms are not enough to consolidate your power. I hope we can debate and accept this proposal. This is for the betterment of the country.
“We have seen what can happen when a prime minister holds on to his position for too long. He can consolidate power and, in the end, he’ll indirectly become a dictator.” – The Vibes, September 20, 2021
