19 March 2025, PERAK – The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) faced sharp criticism from Jason Ng Thien Yeong, the National Public Policy Bureau Chief of DAPSY (DAP Socialist Youth) and Perak State Assemblyman for Astaka, over the party’s opposition to a proposed 10-year limit on the Prime Minister’s tenure and their failure to support amendments to the Federal Constitution to reinstate the Parliamentary Services Act.
In a media statement yesterday, Jason Ng described PAS’s actions as contrary to the democratic principles that form the backbone of the nation.
“PAS’s actions are like spitting into the sky, only to have it fall back on their own faces, as they once supported this reform agenda in the past,” he asserted.
He stressed that the Madani Government is implementing a phased reform agenda, including the proposal to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to two terms to ensure more transparent and accountable governance. Additionally, constitutional amendments and the drafting of the Parliamentary Services Act have been proposed to restore Parliament’s autonomy. However, Jason expressed disappointment with PAS, which now appears to contradict its own stance from the 1990s.
According to him, PAS had previously championed a term limit for the Prime Minister in the Barisan Alternatif manifesto during the 1990s, yet today they are willing to abandon that principle for mere political gain.
“PAS today displays a conservative and extreme attitude, even denying their original stance,” he said, referencing PAS’s failure to support constitutional amendments in the latest parliamentary session.
Jason further emphasized that the essence of modern democracy lies in a system of checks and balances, where limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure and ensuring parliamentary autonomy are crucial steps to prevent power abuse and eradicate corruption.
He also criticized PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for using the analogy of a caliphate system to oppose the proposal.
“Hadi Awang overlooks the fundamental differences between a caliphate system and the modern democracy practiced in Malaysia. We need a balanced system of governance, not lifelong rule,” he remarked.
Jason added that PAS has also attempted to twist the issue by mixing religion with politics, including slandering DAP as anti-Islam. He rebuked claims by PAS Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi, who described the tenure limit proposal as an effort by a “minority group” to weaken the Constitution.
“These claims are baseless and only intended to incite racial division,” he stressed.
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