DAP’s Teh Yee Cheu has called for the state constitutional committee to discuss and study the feasibility of limiting the term of a chief minister to two consecutive terms. ― Picture by Opalyn Mok

GEORGE TOWN, May 10 ― DAP assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu failed for the third time in pushing through his motion to limit the tenure of the Penang chief minister to two terms.

Despite the repeated defeat, the Tanjong Bunga state lawmaker said he is not giving up his mission.

“The Speaker informed me in writing that my motion was rejected, but this will not stop me from trying again next time,” he told reporters after the opening of the fourth term of the Penang Legislative Assembly today.

He added that State Assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang rejected his motion without providing any reason.

Teh submitted the proposed two-point motion in March calling for the state constitutional committee to discuss and study the feasibility of limiting the term of a chief minister to two consecutive terms.

The second point of his motion is for Article 7(9) of the state constitution to be amended to include the clause that any individual appointed to hold the chief minister post be limited to only two consecutive terms.

Teh has submitted similar motions and proposals to amend the state constitution to limit the chief minister term in the past three years and each time, his motion was rejected.

“If I have the chance, I will ask for elected representatives' term to be limited to two terms too but the Parliament constitution does not allow term limits,” he said.

Teh insisted that his reasons for submitting such a motion was to prevent cronyism and to ensure more chance for others to be in the leadership position.

“It will also allow women to be the chief minister,” he said.

Teh plans to submit a similar motion for the next sitting in November.