Johor property law must be in line with Federal Constitution, says Najib
The Malaysian Insider – 9 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- Johor property law must be in line with Federal Constitution, says Najib
Putrajaya has asked Johor to ensure a proposed property law follows the Federal Constitution and takes into account the interests of Johoreans, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic) said today.
The property and housing board law is to be tabled on Monday and is said to have provisions that allow the state ruler to appoint members and determine its budget, raising fears that the constitutional state monarch could have a hand in the state's administrative affairs.
Najib said he stressed the need to follow the Federal Constitution to Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Nordin after he was told by the Johor menteri besar about the new law.
"The menteri besar explained that the bill was consistent with the provisions of the Federal Constitution. He will also be fully responsible in managing the board," the Prime Minister said in a statement to Bernama today.
Najib said Khaled would also ensure that the enactment fulfills its objectives, among them make available more affordable homes for the people of Johor.
It has been reported that the Johor government plans to table the proposed bill on Monday.
Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported yesterday that Johor would be the first state in Malaysia to give powers to the Sultan to be involved in state administration if the bill is passed.
The bill has received mixed reaction with some quarters claiming that, if passed, would see the involvement of the Sultan of Johor in state administration, which the menteri besar has since denied.
The bill has been opposed by legal experts and DAP who said the bill went against the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that the head of state had to be above politics.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San said the Johor government's proposal to give executive powers to its Sultan to be involved in state affairs is not only confusing, but goes against the concept of constitutional monarchy as stipulated in the Federal Constitution. – June 7, 2014.
