Malaysia needs a constitutional court, say G25

Tan Sri Sheriff Mohd Kassim, who is a member of a group of moderate Malays called G25, speaks at the G25 – Upholding the Principles of the Federal Constitution in Royal Selangor Club , Kuala Lumpur, today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, April 25, 2015.

Putrajaya should form a constitutional court to allow the people a chance to challenge government's decisions that were unconstitutional, said a group of moderate Malays.

Tan Sri Sheriff Mohd Kassim, who is part of the group known as G25, said through the formation of the court, fundamentals in the constitution such as clean and fair elections, freedom of speech and the people's right to dissent would be guaranteed and not abused by the government.

"I feel Malaysia needs a constitutional court like in Indonesia... but there are some of the opinion that it is not necessary here because the federal court is sufficient for the role," said Sheriff.

The former finance ministry secretary-general, who was speaking at a dialogue session being held at the Selangor Royal Club in Kuala Lumpur today, added that the federal court would function well if the judges were free to be responsible professionally.

"Perhaps it can be implemented in future, but now, what is important is for the government to continue the agenda of the national transformation programme to increase integrity and professionalism in the judiciary, police and civil service as well as the authority fighting corruption," he said.

He said all of it mirrors the fundamental principles of the constitution, in which democracy meant a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

He added that a special parliamentary committee to improve legislation should be formed and comprising parliamentary elects from both the government as well as the opposition.

"The system of parliamentary select committee is usually carried out in democratic countries including Indonesia. However in Malaysia, there is only one committee, which is the Public Accounts committee(PAC), making our country appear weak in practising good administrative practice," he said.

He added that forming more such committees would allow members of parliament to discuss specific legislations and civil society to participate in discussions before bills were debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

"Another important special parliamentary select committee is for funding and the national budget to give Parliament an important role in overseeing the suggestions for government plans for income, spending and loaning programmes.

"With the public interest in the country's debt amount today, surely people would like to know where public funds are being sourced," he said.

This way, he said, the image of Parliament will improve and no longer be labelled as a "rubber-stamp". 

- TMI