THE federal constitution, formed with the independence of the nation in 1957, is the supreme law of the country, superseding the state constitutions that have been in place even before, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“The constitutions of Johor and Terengganu which were promulgated earlier were nullified by the new constitution which was accepted by all the states of Malaysia,” said the prime minister in his blog posting.

In what is seen as a reminder to the Johor palace, Dr Mahathir today narrated the historical facts on the birth of the federal constitution and reminded everyone that they should adhere to the rule of law and the federal constitution.

Dr Mahathir said in preparation for the independence, the Reid Commission was tasked with drawing up the independent federal constitution.

“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,” he said.

The veteran politician also pointed out that the constitution stated that the party winning the election would name the prime minister (or the chief minister – menteri 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 non-confidence,” he said.

“It is important that everyone concerned respects the constitution and abide by it. Failure to do so would negate the rule of law,” he added.

Dr Mahathir’s reminder comes at a time when the Johor palace is said to have interfered in the appointment of the Johor menteri besar, as well as in the reshuffling to the state exco.

The Johor ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, and Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim have both said that the state constitution gives the Johor ruler the power to decide on the menteri besar as well as the choice of exco members to administer the state.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Bersatu chairman, is reported to be upset that the new menteri besar Sahruddin Jamal had reshuffled the state exco following the palace’s wishes despite the cabinet agreeing not to change the old state exco.

On April 13, outgoing Johor menteri besar Osman Sapian had told reporters that Sultan Ibrahim wanted a reshuffle of state exco members.

Three new state exco members were sworn in before the sultan at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baru on Monday. They were Tosrin Jarvanthi and Mohd Solihan Badri from Bersatu and Tan Chen Choon from DAP.

At the same ceremony, the sultan awarded Sahruddin with a datukship.

On the same day, Dr Mahathir had said Sultan Ibrahim has no influence on the reshuffle of the state executive council.

“The Johor sultan has no influence,” he told reporters in Putrajaya, adding that the lineup of the state executive council was the decision of Johor Pakatan Harapan. – April 24, 2019.