Sabah Cabinet agrees in principle to 2-term limit for CM

The Sabah Cabinet has approved in principle a proposal to limit the tenure of Sabah chief minister to two terms, the state legislative assembly sitting was told today. 

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Abidin Madingkir, said the proposal would be brought to the state assembly if the assemblymen agreed to amend the state constitution on the matter.

“Actually the proposal is good. If we look at the federal level, there is already a proposal to limit the tenure of the prime` minister.

“Developed countries such as the US and other Western countries have also limited the terms of the president and prime minister.

“So I wish to state here again that all assemblymen have to agree with the proposal, when we will bring it to the assembly in the future,” he said.

He was replying to an oral question by Ewon Benedick (Upko-Kadamaian) who asked whether the Sabah government was proposing to amend the state constitution to limit the appointment of the chief minister to two terms.

Abidin said the support of all assemblymen would be necessary for the proposal to be realised.

All legal aspects relating to the proposal will be discussed by the legal officials from the office of Sabah chief justice, to look into the implications if the constitution on limiting the term of the chief minister is amended, he said.