It is perhaps no exaggeration to say that very few constitutional lawyers, maybe even none, feel comfortable about the announcement made by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad about his aim to extend the Malaysia Plan into 10 years.

The plan, which through practice has been fixed at five years, was insufficient, the premier claimed.

While his political opponents may say that it is another attempt to prolong his stay or to make him indispensable, the announcement actually raised a serious issue of accountability of the government of the day to parliament.

Though it could be said that it is purely a question of policy and not law, the announcement is bad news for the notion of responsible government in general and limited government in particular.