A list shared by a Pakatan Harapan MP with The Edge showed several absentees from the government bloc, including three from Barisan Nasional — Sembrong MP Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir and Tapah MP Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan.
KUALA LUMPUR (March 2): The constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years was defeated in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority by just two votes.
The bill needed the support of 148 MPs to pass but only 146 voted in favour, while 44 abstained and 32 were absent, according to the bloc vote results announced by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
A list shared by a Pakatan Harapan MP with The Edge showed several absentees from the government bloc, including three from Barisan Nasional — Sembrong MP Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir and Tapah MP Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan; Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s Lawas MP Henry Sum Agong; GRS’s Keningau MP Datuk Seri Jeffery Kitingan; and PBM’s Julau MP Larry Sng.
Two independent lawmakers were also absent, namely Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz and Tenom MP Riduan Rubin.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 sought to amend Article 43 to require a prime minister to step down upon reaching a 10-year limit. Clause 4(d) specifies that any period served before the amendment takes effect counts towards the limit, while terms served following a parliamentary dissolution are excluded.
The term limit is a key reform long championed by DAP, currently the largest party in the Unity Government. Holding 40 parliamentary seats, the party has pledged to accelerate its reform agenda over the next six months following its heavy defeat in November’s Sabah election.
In a statement issued afterwards, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke expressed deep disappointment over the outcome, urging civil society and voters to question and hold accountable MPs who were absent or opposed, including those in the opposition bloc.
He stressed that all 40 DAP MPs were present and supported the amendment, working to advance the reform agenda.
Govt defeats not unprecedented
This is not the first time the sitting government has suffered a defeat in the Dewan Rakyat. In March 2022, the House voted down a motion to extend the enforcement period for a key provision under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
The provision, Section 4(5), allows detention without trial for up to 28 days and must be renewed every five years by both houses to remain valid. Only 84 MPs supported the renewal in a bloc vote, compared to 86 against, with 50 absent.
The Section 4(5) provision was later approved in July after then home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin retabled the motion, following a successful motion to quash the House’s earlier decision
Checks with several MPs indicate the government can resubmit the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, though its plans remain unclear. It is understood that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, will issue a statement clarifying the government’s position in due course.
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