“The United States’ model allows its president to remain in power for a maximum two terms, or eight years, and it works well.”
In an apparent reference to PPBM’s founder, former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he said one should not be allowed to be prime minister for 22 years.
He said this during a plenary session titled “Independence of Institutions in a Democracy” at the International Malaysia Law Conference here.
PPBM Vice-President Mukhriz Mahathir, who is Mahathir’s son, suggested yesterday that the prime minister’s tenure be limited in line with the political system in several developed countries.
He suggested a maximum of two full five-year terms.
This, he said, was important to avoid a management crisis and abuse of power as was seen with the current Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
On another matter, Kuthubul said the appointment of heads of the police force, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Bank Negara and the attorney-general should not be the prerogative of the prime minister.
At present the king appoints them, but on the advice of the prime minister.
Kuthubul said the government was involoved in business through 1MDB and claimed the fiasco had crippled key investigation agencies from carrying out their probes as the prime minister was implicated.
“Appointments of key positions involve the prime minister. The framers of the Constitution then never envisaged the government to be involved in business.”
Retired Court of Appeal Judge Mohamed Arif Md Yusof said the public focused on the judiciary, executive and legislature to ensure separation of powers and rule of law.
However, he said, most ignore the importance of the police, army, the civil service, the Election Commission (EC) and the office of the state mufti.
“We are living in a flawed democracy and everyone must strive to improve on it.”