Sabah to remove term limit for state governor
The special Sabah state Legislative Assembly sitting scheduled for tomorrow is to remove the two-term limit of the state’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the state's Health and People's Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wong said.
"Currently, the Sabah Constitution stipulates that the state governor can serve only two terms. What we are seeking is to remove the 'two-term' reference," Wong told Malaysiakini when contacted.
The special Sabah state Legislative Assembly sitting scheduled for tomorrow is to remove the two-term limit of the state’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the state's Health and People's Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wong said.
"Currently, the Sabah Constitution stipulates that the state governor can serve only two terms. What we are seeking is to remove the 'two-term' reference," Wong (photo, above) told Malaysiakini when contacted.
“There was no mention of a term limit for the head of state in the original state Constitution, but it was later limited to two terms.
"Since we are talking about MA63 (Malaysian Agreement 1963), so we wish to return to the earliest (version of) the state Constitution," he said.
This is the sole reason behind the Warisan-led state government's tabling of the motion, according to Wong.
The motion will allow the current state governor Juhar Mahiruddin (photo), whose term ends on Jan 2, 2019, to remain in office for a possible third term. He was first appointed to the post on Jan 2, 2011, and sworn in again for his second term on Jan 1, 2015.
The state Constitution limits the Yang di-Pertua's tenure to two terms, with each term lasting four years.
Warisan, along with its allies PKR and DAP, won 29 of 60 state seats in the 14th general election, just two seats short of simple majority. Sabah BN had also won 29 seats. The balance two seats are held by Parti Solidarity Tanah Airku (Star).
On May 10, BN's Musa Aman was sworn in as the state chief minister after gaining support from Star. However, Sabah BN later lost power after six state assemblypersons defected, resulting in Warisan president Shafie Apdal being sworn in as chief minister on May 13.
Speculation has been rife that the bid to extend the governor’s term was Shafie’s way of thanking Juhar for swearing him in.
However, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief Joniston Bankuai disagrees with the move.
"If the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s term is not limited by law, the office will emerge as a de facto sultanship of sorts, as in the sultanates in Malaya,” Joniston was quoted by The Star as saying yesterday.
'Their imaginations run wild'
However, Wong, who is also Sabah DAP chief, dismissed such speculation.
"Their imaginations run wild. It never crossed our mind (to thank Juhar by extending his tenure)," he said, adding that the move would not create a de facto sultanship.
"We are not seeking to extend the term for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri. The chief minister can remove the governor anytime, it is within his power," he said.
In addition to the governor’s tenure, Wong said, the state government will also amend the state constitution to upgrade the 'assistant minister' titles to 'deputy minister', so they have adequate power to deal with state affairs.
“Currently, the assistant ministers' hands are tied as they do not have enough power to act,” he said.
At present, Warisan and its allies control 45 seats in the 64-seat assembly, more than the two-thirds threshold needed to amend the Constitution.
There is also speculation that several Umno lawmakers might quit their party today, and support the bill as well.
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