KUALA LUMPUR: Broader cooperation between government and opposition lawmakers under the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) could help secure parliamentary support for key institutional reforms, including a proposed 10-year limit on the prime minister’s tenure.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said cross-party cooperation was crucial to building parliamentary consensus on reforms, particularly the separation of the roles of attorney-general and public prosecutor.
She said political differences should not prevent lawmakers from working together to ensure national stability and safeguard the people’s interests.
Azalina said expanding the agreement would allow more MPs to participate in cross-party cooperation and demonstrate maturity in parliamentary democracy.
“Political differences should not be an obstacle to cooperation for the sake of national stability and the interests of the people.
“In fact, a similar approach was implemented when Umno was part of the federal government during the previous parliamentary term,” she said in a statement.
She also welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s support for the CSA and his proposal to extend the arrangement to opposition parties.
Azalina said broader cooperation was particularly important in advancing institutional reforms that required support across party lines.
She identified the proposed separation of the roles of attorney-general and public prosecutor, as well as the plan to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to 10 years, as two major reforms that could benefit from such cooperation.
“More comprehensive cross-party cooperation is essential in building parliamentary consensus to implement institutional reforms, particularly the separation of the roles of attorney-general and public prosecutor and the proposal to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years,” she said.
Azalina stressed that reforms involving national interests and amendments to the Federal Constitution should be thoroughly examined and supported by lawmakers from both sides of the political divide.
She said this would ensure that voters, through their elected representatives, had a say in determining the future of the country’s institutions.
“Reforms involving national interests and amendments to the Federal Constitution should receive scrutiny and support across party lines.
“This is to ensure that the voices of the people, represented by their respective MPs, are involved in determining the direction and future of national institutions through debates and voting in Parliament,” she said.
Azalina also reaffirmed Barisan Nasional’s commitment to maintaining political stability and strengthening democratic institutions as part of the unity government.
“As part of the unity government, Barisan Nasional will continue to play a constructive role in preserving political stability, strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring the country is governed effectively for the benefit of the people,” she said.
The CSA was signed on Oct 29 by 13 lawmakers, comprising six Bersatu members of parliament, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and six independent MPs.
Under the agreement, the lawmakers committed to supporting the 2027 Budget and key institutional reforms, including limiting the prime minister’s tenure and separating the roles of attorney-general and public prosecutor.
The arrangement also provides for constituency development allocations comparable to those received by government backbenchers.
Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said his party supported the CSA, which had been agreed upon by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council.
Loke said the agreement was intended to ensure political stability and prevent attempts to bring down the government.
The proposed constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years previously failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat on March 2.
The bill received 146 votes in favour, two short of the 148 required for passage, while 44 MPs abstained and 32 were absent.
The proposed separation of the attorney-general’s and public prosecutor’s roles has also undergone scrutiny as part of the government’s institutional reform agenda.
Both reforms were among the constitutional amendment bills tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in February.