PUTRAJAYA – The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to 10 years that failed to secure the required two-thirds majority on Monday by a mere two votes, with 146 MPs in favour, 32 MPs were absent, while 44 abstained will be re-tabled at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in June 2026.
MADANI Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the matter was agreed upon during today’s (Wednesday) Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Fahmi expressed hope that the non-partisan amendment, designed to strengthen democracy, would secure cross-party support and pass when tabled.
“All members of Parliament should understand that this effort is to ensure there will no longer be a situation where a Prime Minister feels that he can do as he pleases simply because he can remain in power indefinitely,” he said at a post-Cabinet press conference here Wednesday.
Any approval of a Federal Constitution amendment Bill requires at least 148 parliamentary votes.
The results of the bloc vote were announced by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Dr Johari Abdul on Monday, following debates by 41 government and opposition MPs.
Fahmi also mentioned that the Cabinet was today briefed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is the government chief whip, on the status of eight government-supporting MPs who were absent during the voting session.
On another development, Fadillah expressed confidence that the re-tabling of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 in June which sought to limit prime minister’s term of office to 10 years would receive full support from government members of parliament.
He said although there had been voices questioning Putrajaya’s decision to reintroduce the Bill, the government believed limiting the prime minister’s term was in the nation’s best interest at this time.
“The decision is that we will bring this Bill back to Parliament and see the outcome. I am confident that it will be approved next time,” he told reporters at the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry’s breaking-of-fast here Wednesday.
Fadillah was responding to questions about eight government members of parliament who were absent during Monday’s vote on the Bill.
He said two MPs submitted letters explaining their absence, some contacted him verbally to give their reasons while others were stranded overseas due to limited flights.
“It was merely a coincidence that circumstances prevented them from attending and that is why 146 MPs were present to support it,” he said.
