Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman is set to enter his 13th year in office next month and federal minister Salleh Said Keruak believes this is a better system for the state compared with its previous rotation system.

Prior to Musa's rise to power in 2003, the chief ministers for Sabah were appointed on a rotation basis with a member of the Muslim bumiputera, Christian bumiputera and Chinese community serving a two-year term respectively.

Salleh, who himself served as Sabah chief minister from 1994 to 1996, said two years just isn't enough to make significant changes.

He said it was the norm in most countries that the head of government is allowed to lead for at least two terms, of around four to five years each.

"So it is the acceptable norm that you need two terms to be effective.

"You need one term to plan and rationalise and another term to see the results of your plans because you need time for plans to bear results.

"So I would say the present system is better because two years is hardly enough time to even warm your seat," he told Malaysiakini in an email interview.

Musa’s 13-year helm

Following the retirement of Abdul Taib Mahmud last year after serving as Sarawak chief minister for 33 years, Musa has taken over as the second longest serving chief minister still in power.

He is only preceded by Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob who has been at the helm for almost 17 years.

Salleh, who was in July last year appointed communications and multimedia minister, said the concept of needing two terms to get things done also does not exclude him.

"I have hardly been in office one year let alone one term," he said.

Salleh is seen as a loyalist of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and has faced criticism from the opposition, accusing him of being more interested in defending the premier than managing his ministry.

However, Salleh said that ultimately, history will judge his performance as a federal minister.

"I know what needs to be done and I also know how to do it. The rest requires time," he said.