PM term limit can be discussed but must be Muslim, says PAS leader

PM term limit can be discussed but must be Muslim, says PAS leader


Published: Mar 17, 2025 4:22 PM
Updated: 7:22 PM


Summary

• Senior PAS leader Syahir Sulaiman says the plan to limit a prime minister to two terms can be discussed but wants a condition to ensure only Muslims can hold the position.

• He says the condition is justified because Islam is the country's official religion.

A senior PAS leader today indicated willingness to discuss limiting the prime minister’s tenure, but with a condition: only a Muslim can hold the position.

PAS assistant secretary-general 3 Syahir Sulaiman said the condition is justified and necessary given the status of Islam as the religion of the federation.

“Constitution: Limiting PM (tenure) to two terms, can be discussed.

“Set (a condition) that the prime minister must be a Muslim, we can discuss this too.

“This is sensible and based on necessity; Islam is the official religion of the federation,” the Bachok MP said on Facebook.

It is believed that he was responding to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who yesterday suggested the government implement several promised reforms which have yet to be fulfilled, including limiting a prime minister’s term in office, and separation of judicial powers.

Syahir was the second prominent PAS leader to have openly commented about the matter after PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Hamimi Taib Azamudden.

Afnan in a Facebook post yesterday made a racially charged response towards Loke’s suggestion, which he viewed as an attempt by the “minority” to control the “majority” by allegedly dismantling the Constitution.