Pakatan Harapan should lay down a policy of two terms for the post of prime minister and chief ministers (or menteri besar) if it seizes Putrajaya in the next general election, popular Islamic preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussain urged today today.

There already have been calls to limit the post of chief minister in Penang. Lim Guan Eng is now administering Penang in his second term, since 2008, while Menteri Besar Azmin Ali is currently serving his first term in Selangor.

Kelantan has been governed by PAS since the 1990s, and the state had a new menteri besar following the death of the PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who served the state for 23 years.

Wan Ji said these head of government posts should not be held for more than two terms or else it would breed arrogance and corruption in those holding the posts.

“In the first term, they may say that the country belongs to the people; in the second term, their sons would say that this is their father’s country.

“In the third term, their wives would begin to say that the country belongs to their husbands, and in the fourth term, they themselves would say, ‘This country belongs to me’.

“When that time comes, it will be very difficult for us,” Wan Ji said at a public forum on “1MDB, Accountability - Maqasid Syariah “ organised by Penang Institute at the Seberang Perai Municipal Council building in Bandar Perda.

Goals and purposes of Islam

Maqasid refers to the goals and purposes of Islam, where there are five foundational goals (Maqasid al-Syariah) in the preservation of religion/faith, life, lineage/progeny, intellect and property/wealth.

Also on the panel with Wan Ji were Parti Amanah Negara vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Gabriel.

Penang Institute fellow (Nusantara Section) Mustafa K Annuar moderated the event, while research fellow Wong Chin Huat delivered the opening speech.

Wan Ji said the prime minister is not the only wise person in Malaysia, although he may be from Umno.

“If people in Umno are so smart, then how come we have someone like Ahmad Maslan as Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry ?” he asked, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Ahmad, who is Umno Pontian division deputy chief, has often courted controversy over his remarks on the much dreaded goods and services tax and was even jeered at during the Pontian Umno division AGM in August.

“There are also smart people with us, so we hope Pakatan Harapan will limit the terms of the prime minister, chief minister and menteri besar to two terms. After the term ends, please find someone else,” Wan Ji added.

Mujahid ( photo ) concurred with Wan Ji that those in power must improve the system and not follow the old ways of governance.

He said he had promoted such beliefs and became unpopular in his former party, PAS.

Mujahid expressed his personal feeling that the tenure of heads of governments should be limited to two terms or 10 years.

“After 10 years, people may change,” said the Parit Buntar MP.

“When they are first elected, they may be good people, but may change after that due to bad advisers. The Quran states this, and we should be aware of it happening in our midst,” he added.

Cynthia raised several questions on whether Malaysia was practising policies that are “maqasid compliant”, such as signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) with the United States and 10 other countries.

She said the Maqasid Syariah may encourage open trade, but there must be transparency, unlike the TPPA, which is shrouded in secrecy.

“What maqasid principles will be used to resolve the 1MDB scandals and persistent questions over Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s RM2.6 billion donations in his private bank accounts?” she asked.

Cynthia claimed that during former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s era, misappropriation of funds were somewhat controlled as the dealings were carried out in mega-development projects.

“These days, the outright stealing of people’s money happens in broad daylight as there is lack of transparency, integrity and accountability,” she said.

Cynthia asked if Pakatan Harapan had plans or policies in place to combat corruption and promote transparency and good governance.

She praised Penang and Selangor for passing the Freedom of Information Act, which she said would be the first step to combating secrecy laws that cover up corruption.

“States ruled by the opposition must think of ways to implement Maqasid Syariah to deal with corruption, which also happens in their governments. If not, there will be no answer or solutions to address corruption,” she added.