TTF: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the federated Malay states had adopted a system of constitutional monarchy and rulers did not hold absolute power (see news item below).
But that’s the problem – the system that we have today was inherited from the British, who themselves do not have a codified constitution, but one that’s unwritten and formed of Acts of Parliament, court judgments and conventions.
Yes, the UK is one of the few countries in the world that does not have a written constitution.
Yet, when the British decided to grant us independence, they insisted that we be guarded by a written constitution and deliberately greyed areas related to religion and the eminence of the Malay Rulers.
According to a former historian, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman confided that the British did this to ward off a communist threat by ensuring that the Chinese would always be in conflict with the Malays so as to prevent the Malay Rulers from turning pro-communist.
The British wanted the Malay rulers to be the heads of Islam but not the ‘absolute’ heads of government.
That explains why Islam was only referred to as “the religion of the Federation” in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and not “the official religion of the Federation.”
The British triggered a grey area insofar as the ‘secularity’ of the constitution was concerned to prevent rulers from demanding ‘absolute power’.
Basically, if the rulers can’t prove that Islam is the official religion, they can’t demand that they be granted absolute power in accordance with the demands of Islam.”
The Malaysian Parliament is dominated by Malays, though the Muslim majority is now the opposition, while the ruling Pakatan Harapan is controlled by the predominantly Chinese DAP.
What this means, is there currently exists a pseudo-communist party that’s dictating terms to the Malays.
In other words, what the British sought to prevent – which is, the rise of communism in the Federal administration – happened anyway.
Thanks to the decades the DAP spent splitting the Muslims and unifying the Chinese under it’s “communist” umbrella, the Chinese are currently the “largest, single most united race-unit” in Malaysia while the Malay majority now comprises “multiple minority units.”
Everyone knows that the communist leaning DAP is just as opposed to the Monarchical Institution as Mahathir is.
This is made manifest when one considers how Lim Kit Siang insulted the ruler of Selangor during Langkah Kajang and Mahathir’s disrespect for the Johor Palace.
Given that the rulers of the day are anti-communist, the grey areas the British included in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia to prevent them from turning communist no longer serve any purpose.
So, the only way the Malays and the Chinese can attain peace and harmony is if the grey areas are eliminated to better define the constitution.
It follows, that one of Mahathir’s immediate tasks should be to accord the Malay Rulers the right to sack a sitting Menteri Besar and (or) Prime Minister and redefine Islam as “the official religion of the Federation.”
Once he does that, the rulers can work in tandem with him to keep the DAP in check and reunite the Malays by pushing for the legislation of “anti-Islamophobic laws.”
Through the laws, the courts could be granted jurisdiction to impose very heavy penalties upon those who “incite irrational fear or prejudice towards Muslims, the religion of Islam and its history” and to all those who “impress upon the general public that Islam is a problem for Malaysia.”
That would present the Malay-Muslims a reason to unite, as Islam does dictate that it is their duty to uphold the sanctity of the religion whenever the religion is seen to be under threat.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the federated Malay states had adopted a system of constitutional monarchy and rulers did not hold absolute power.
Responding to a post by the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who said there should be no interference in state affairs as Johor still possessed sovereignty and a sultan on its throne, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia would not be a democratic nation if the rulers had the final word on who became prime minister or menteri besar.
“I am of the opinion that if we assume that those who can choose the prime minister and menteri besar are the kings, then we are no longer a democratic country.”
Dr Mahathir said the people picked political parties, which in turn had the right to appoint the menteri besar.
“If this right is denied, then it would mean that we are no longer a democracy.”
Earlier, the prime minister said the constitution was drafted when the federated Malay states were formed.
“This is a very serious thing. In the constitution, we have stated that the federated Malay states adopted the constitutional monarchy system.
“There is no ruler with absolute power.
“If there such a thing (ruler with absolute power) in Johor’s state constitution, it would have been rendered annulled since Johor has also agreed with the country’s ruling system.”
Dr Mahathir said if the current ruling system was abolished then elections would also have to be done away with.
Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim, in a posting on his official Facebook page, said he would make a decision on the vacant menteri besar post when the time came.
“I will make the best decision for the sake of my rakyat when the time comes.”
The ruler said he was currently overseas but was always following developments in the country, especially in Johor, through reports from all parties.
“I want certain parties to stop making noise and fighting about politics, but instead to focus on efforts to take care of the country.
“In regards to Johor, do not try to interfere with the administration of this sovereign state which still has a sultan,” he said in the posting.
The menteri besar’s post is currently vacant following the resignation of Datuk Osman Sapian on Monday.
Sultan Ibrahim is scheduled to return to the state at the end of the week.
Adapted from:
