Johor DAP vice-chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said PAS had supported similar proposals in 1999 and 2004, despite its president Abdul Hadi Awang now stating that such limits were against God’s will.

Sheikh Umar also urged Hadi to “fight against his own forgetfulness” instead of shifting his stance for political convenience.

“PAS supported this proposal when it was part of the Barisan Alternatif coalition in 1999, alongside DAP, Parti Keadilan Nasional (now PKR), and Parti Rakyat Malaysia,” he said.

He also said PAS and PKR had reaffirmed their support for the term limit before the 2004 general election, even after DAP left the coalition in 2001.

“There were no religious objections back then, but now that PAS doesn’t want it, a thousand justifications are being made,” he said.

Hadi yesterday criticised the call by DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook to amend the Federal Constitution to include a two-term limit for the prime ministership, for which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his support.

In a Facebook post, Hadi said “leadership is a sacred trust from Allah, not merely a temporary position to be passed around for individuals to enjoy before being handed to the next for personal gain”.

The Marang MP also said Islamic caliphs throughout history had served until their deaths, fulfilling their duty with unwavering commitment.