SANDAKAN – The Sabah government will need to look into various political scenarios before possibly amending the Sabah Constitution to impose a two-term limit for the position of Sabah Chief Minister (CM), said former Sabah CM Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee.
Commenting on Sabah CM Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s proposal to limit the CM’s tenure to a maximum of two terms (about 10 years), Yong said there are still a lot of loopholes that need to be addressed.
“What if a term of office is abruptly cut short by a snap election without running the course of the five-year term? Does that count as one term?
“Only after we (the Sabah government) have deliberated the various possible political scenarios, can we form an opinion on whether the proposal is good for Sabah or not,” he told Scoop.
Earlier this month, Hajiji was quoted in Sabah paper, the Daily Express, that the state cabinet had agreed to his proposal and that the relevant bills would be tabled in the state assembly sitting next month.
Political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang of UiTM Sabah opined that Sabah will be making national political history if the proposal is implemented.
An advantage of term limits for a public office holder include promoting accountability, as a limited term would encourage the CM to focus on achieving policy goals and delivering results during their limited time in power.
“They are less likely to become complacent or engage in corruption or nepotism, knowing that their time is finite,” he told Scoop.
Bagang also said a limited CM term would prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or party, thus fostering a healthier democracy while preventing authoritarian overreach.
Additionally, he said, it would create opportunities for new leaders to emerge, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to governance, which would promote political diversity and prevent stagnation in leadership.
“Without term limits, incumbents often have a significant advantage in elections, making it challenging for opposition parties to compete. Limiting the CM term would level the playing field and reduce the potential for electoral manipulation.
“Long-serving leaders may also be more susceptible to corruption or unethical behaviour over time. Term limits would reduce this risk by limiting the time an individual can hold power,” he added.
Hajiji first told the press of his proposal to limit the Sabah CM’s tenure to two terms in September of last year, and revived the matter again recently, citing the state cabinet’s approval and preparations to table the relevant bills.
“Amending the State Constitution requires the approval of two-thirds in the Assembly, therefore I’m hoping for their backing on this,” he was quoted as saying.
Another political analyst, Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said that two terms are the perfect duration; not too short, and not too long.
“The CM would have ample time to deliver his manifesto. (Unlike) two years practised before; there is nothing much a CM can do in two years.
“To table a new motion or legislative/law in the State Assembly would at times take more than two years,” he said, adding that limiting the CM post to two terms reflects power-sharing.
Sabah had no limit for the CM’s tenure until 1994 when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (the Prime Minister at the time) imposed a rotation system for Sabah CM to alternate betweem Muslim, non-Muslim bumiputra, and Chinese parties every two years.
The last Sabah CM who had served under the rotation system was Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat.
The system was scrapped in 2004 when Tan Sri Musa Aman was in charge of the state, which made Musa the longest-serving Sabah CM, as he held the office for 15 years until 2018. – October 22, 2023