The Federal Constitution is not the sword of power for politicians and MPs harbouring conquest and wielding control.
On the contrary, it stands in defence of the rights of every single person in the land – present and future.
As of February 2023, there have been 61 amendments to the Constitution of Malaysia since it was promulgated in 1957.
While the provision to amend the Constitution is guaranteed under Article 159, it is not subservient to the whims and fancies or greed for power and control of any political party, its leader or the government.
Although the safeguard lies in the provision which allows the Constitution to be altered through an amendment act supported by two-thirds of the MPs, the 61 amendments since 1957 are far too many compared to many progressive nations.
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Even Umno is gearing up, again, to tackle the Constitution in the wake of the civil court’s position on the limited scope for state assemblies to pass laws pertaining to Sharia offences.
If we continue along this direction of amending and cutting to size our Constitution, we will inevitably suffer at the hands of an of autocracy.
It is not farfetched to fear that one day even our unique constitutional monarchy democratic system, which has served the nation well all these decades, may be weakened if we allow politicians to keep amending the Constitution to feed their hidden greed for power, control and personal enrichment.
The story goes that the late former Lord President Suffian Hashim once tried to locate a copy of the Constitution at a bookshop, but he was unable to find it.
Upon seeking the assistance of customer service, he was told “the Constitution has been amended so many times we now shelf it under Periodicals”.
How unfortunate!
Fourteen years ago, Star columnist Shaila Koshy pointed out:
In 230 years of the constitutional history of the United States, less than 30 amendments have met the strict requirements of the amending process. In contrast, the Malaysian Constitution has been amended more than 40 times since Malaya obtained independence on Aug 31, 1957, that is, 53 years ago.
And as of 2023, we have clocked 61 amendments.
At the rate we allow politicians and MPs and their coterie of wannabees to push for constitutional amendments, the time might come when the Constitution will be rendered ineffective and the nation turned inside out and upside down.
Let’s unite and defend the Constitution. Enough of dimming the nation’s beacon of hope that safeguards the people’s rights.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
