GEORGE TOWN: The opposition’s proposal to implement the two-term limit for the posts of prime minister, chief minister and menteri besar if they come into power after the 14th general election is merely to canvas for votes.
DAP’s Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said the opposition should have implemented the proposal in Penang and Selangor first when they came to power in the past.
He said they should make good their remaining time in power to prepare a working paper on such a proposal and tabled it at the Penang and Selangor state legislative assembly sittings before the coming election.
“They need to prove their sincerity in implementing the proposal while still in power. Why the need to wait until the 14th general election? Do you really want to implement it or is it merely to canvas for votes?
“Implement it first in the two states. Give the voters in the two states confidence that they really intend to implement the proposal and prove that is not mere empty talk,” he told the New Straits Times Press.
Teh had proposed in the state legislative assembly sitting in 2014 that Penang’s CM post be limited to two terms.
However, it was rejected, with mixed reactions from the elected representatives.
On March 31, 2016, Teh again raised the motion, but was rejected a second time.
Last October, Teh announced his decision to leave the party after the state assembly is dissolved, saying he was no longer in sync with the party leadership.
Meanwhile, Teh also urged voters to evaluate the opposition’s sincerity in realising the two-term limit proposal, especially since it was a recycled idea from an elected representative.
“I had raised it at least four times but was repeatedly rejected. As such, I leave it to the voters to judge for themselves,” he added.