GEORGE TOWN: The Penang State Government does not plan to amend the term limit for the chief minister’s office from two terms to 10 years for the time being.
Chief Minister, Chow Kon Yeow, said that the existing provisions in the state Constitution are clear regarding the term limit for the Chief Minister’s position.
He said Article 7 Clause 2(a) of the Penang State Constitution provides that the Yang Dipertua Negeri must appoint a State Assemblyman (ADUN) as Chief Minister who has the confidence of the majority and has never held the position for two terms at any time.
“In the event that the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is dissolved before a term reaches five years, the term ‘two terms’ should be understood as a cumulative calculation of the years involved for the first term and second term.”
“The total amount can be less than 10 years but cannot exceed 10 years at all,” he said at the Penang State Assembly sitting here today.
Chow said this in response to a question from Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubuk) on whether the state government was prepared to amend the term limit for the Chief Minister’s office to 10 years.
He said Article 19 Clause 3 of the Penang State Constitution also provides that the State Assembly shall run for five years from the date of its first sitting unless dissolved earlier.
“The state government is of the view that the existing interpretation of the two-term limit is sufficient and does not require any amendments at this time,” he said.
Penang is the first state in Malaysia to officially limit the Chief Minister’s term of office to two terms through an amendment to the State Constitution passed in November 2018 to strengthen the state’s political governance.
— BERNAMA
