Anwar faces ‘reality check’ on support for reform agenda after failure to pass Bill on PM tenure limit

The failure to pass the Bill has exposed significant coordination gaps and "uneven political commitment" within the Anwar Ibrahim administration, say analysts.

KUALA LUMPUR: The failure of the Anwar government to see through a landmark Bill that would limit the tenure of a sitting prime minister to just two terms - or a maximum of 10 years - serves as a “reality check” for the administration, analysts say, as they warn that parliamentary support for political stability does not necessarily equate to unconditional support for a reforms agenda among some.

On Monday (Mar 2), the government fell just two votes short of the 148 required to pass a Bill that would amend the constitution, a result that some observers and politicians from the ruling side said was due to “poor management”.

Following this, the government on Tuesday decided to defer another highly anticipated Bill aimed at separating the roles of the attorney general and the public prosecutor. Instead, it will be examined by a new bipartisan parliamentary committee.

While it was a setback for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim - who faces pressure to pass reforms from his coalition members - analysts however did not think that the issue would have significant impact or pressure on his administration for now.