TMJ posts excerpts of Federal Constitution after Dr M explains powers of state rulers
Jerry Choong And Ida Lim
Malay Mail24 April 2019
Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim cited Articles 71(1) and 181(1) of the Federal Constitution on guarantees accorded by the country’s supreme law to the rulers. — Bernama picMore
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — The Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim tonight posted on social media excerpts of the Federal Constitution on the rights of state rulers after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad commented on them on his blog.
He posted four screenshots on Twitter and Facebook of Articles 71(1) and 181(1) of the Federal Constitution, both in English and Bahasa Malaysia, on guarantees accorded by the country’s supreme law to the rulers.
Tunku Ismail cited Article 71(1), which among others, guarantees the right of a state ruler to enjoy and exercise his constitutional rights and privileges in accordance with the state’s constitution.
The Johor crown prince also cited Article 181(1) which states that the “sovereignty, prerogatives, powers and jurisdiction” which the rulers enjoyed will remain unaffected, subject to constitutional provisions.
Earlier, in a post on his blog chedet.cc, Dr Mahathir had said the state constitutions of Johor and Terengganu, which came into effect in 1895 and 1911, were nullified once the new Federal Constitution was accepted by all the Malayan states in 1957.
HRH Crown Prince of Johor@HRHJohorII
He said the new constitution ensured Malaya would be a democracy where its people would choose the government and the rulers would function as constitutional heads without executive power.
“Their position would be guaranteed by the Constitution which would be the supreme law of the country. The party winning the election would name the prime minister or the chief minister — mentri besar and the constitutional head would endorse.
“Should the constitutional monarch refuse to endorse and proposes his own candidate and endorses him, the winning party can reject him in the assembly — ‘dewan’, through a vote of no-confidence,” Dr Mahathir said.
Amid Johor tensions, Dr M points to constitution as highest rule of law
Jerry Choong
Malay Mail24 April 2019
Dr Mahathir reiterated the importance of respecting the Constitution and abiding by it, for failure in doing so would negate the rule of law. — Picture by Mukhriz HazimMore
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has taken to explaining the history of the Federal Constitution, in the wake of support from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Supreme Council members for him over the unexpected change in the Johor state executive council.
This also followed the revelation by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman that ties between him and Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim have soured.
In a post on his blog chedet.cc, the prime minister explained the sequence of events that led to the formation of the Federal Constitution, such as the alliance of Umno, MCA and MIC winning 51 of the 52 seats in the 1955 general elections and forming a home-rule Government, despite skepticism from the British overlords.
“Immediately there was a clamour among the people and the parties in the Government for independence. Negotiations were held in London and eventually it was agreed that Malaya would become independent in 1957,” Dr Mahathir said.
Preparing for this, the Reid Commission headed by Scotland’s Solicitor-General and Appeal Court judge Lord William Reid was tasked to draw up a constitution for the Federation of Malaya.
“It was agreed that Malaya would be a democracy where the people would choose the Government. The rulers would be constitutional heads without executive power.
“Their position would be guaranteed by the Constitution which would be the supreme law of the country. The party winning the election would name the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister – Mentri Besar and the constitutional head would endorse,” he said.
Dr Mahathir emphasised that in the event the constitutional monarch refused to give endorsement and instead proposed his own candidate and endorses him, the winning party could reject him in the assembly through a vote of no-confidence.
“The constitutions of Johor and Terengganu which were promulgated earlier (in 1895 and 1911 respectively) were nullified by the new constitution which was accepted by all the states of Malaysia.
“Accordingly on the 9th of May, 2018, the peoples of Malaysia went to the polls to elect the Governments of (the Federation) Malaysia and the Governments of the states,” he said.
Dr Mahathir reiterated the importance of respecting the Constitution and abiding by it, for failure in doing so would negate the rule of law.
Bersatu convened an emergency meeting on Monday evening, where the main focus was the new Johor exco line-up, which occurred after Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal was sworn in as the new mentri besar on Sunday.
Supreme Council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said the party would stand by the rule of law, and that no one is above the Federal Constitution.
Subsequently, yesterday during a media interview, Syed Saddiq said the formerly-close relationship he had with the Johor Crown Prince frayed when Tunku Ismail made demands that he said were political in nature, leaving Syed Saddiq feeling uncomfortable
