In democracy, the ruling party picks the MB, says Dr Mahathir

Ravin Palanisamy Ravin Palanisamy Updated 5 years ago · Published on 10 Apr 2019 6:10PM · 3 Comments

The royal standard flying over Parliament Square during the installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Malaysia would not be a democracy if heads of federal and state governments were chosen by the rulers. – The Malaysian Insight pic, April 10, 2019.

PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia is not an absolute monarchy and it is the ruling party’s right to choose the head of a state government.

He said the constitution stated that the Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy.

“I am of the view that if we regard the selection of the prime minister and menteri besar as being done by the ruler, and then we are no longer a democracy.

“It would mean that even though the people have given a party the majority, it would not have the right to appoint its leader to the position of menteri besar.

“This would be a denial of the people’s rights. We would no longer be a democracy,” he said in Parliament lobby.

His remarks came barely an hour after the Johor sultan said he will decide who would be the next menteri besar.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had called on politicking to stop over who will replace Osman Sapian as menteri besar, saying he will decide in good time.

He said he was keeping an eye on developments despite being overseas.

“I want certain quarters to stop making noise and fighting over politics and instead focus on running the country.

“As for Johor, don’t interfere in the affairs of the state as it is a sovereign state and still has a sultan,” he said on Facebook today.

Dr Mahathir said if this was the case, Malaysia would be an absolute monarchy.

“If this is true, then we must have a debate on this issue.

“Do we want to go with the current arrangement where the ruler has no power and acts on the advice of the prime minister at the federal level and menteri besar at the state level?

“But if this arrangement is to be abolished then we no longer need to have elections,” he said

Dr Mahathir said even if the Johor constitution vested the powers to appoint the menteri besar in the sultan, that article would be invalidated because the state had agreed to be part of the federation.

“If such a provision still exists in the Johor constitution it is no longer valid as Johor also agreed to the constitutional monarchy system in the country,” he said. – April 10, 2019.

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Comments

  • People want democracy.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • PM will have the support of the rakyat in this matter.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • It is hoped that the royal in question knows his authority is under the Constitution in the context of a parliamentary democracy.

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply