PKR wants to restore immunity of monarchy

DAULAT TUANKU

SHAH ALAM: Nov 29, 2008 By SHAHANAAZ HABIB, WANI MUTHIAH, TEH ENG HOCK and NURBAITI HAMDAN

PKR wants to restore the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in relation to the law-making process.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail said PKR wanted the King to have the power to reject bills tabled in Parliament.

She said the party wanted to return the immunity of the monarchy based on the spirit of Constitutional Monarchy (Raja Berperlembagaan), but this did not mean that they were pushing for rulers to be exempt from criminal and civil laws.

She said the party wanted to restore the power of the King to reject bills proposed by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

In January 1984, the Federal Constitution was amended to allow the King to only delay legislation by a month. The bill would then be sent back to Parliament with his objections, and then be resubmitted to him. If the King still opposed the form in which Parliament had passed it, he could only delay the bill for another month before it was gazetted as law.

PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali explained that the Constitution was amended in the past to limit the power of the King in this aspect.

“The Ruler can reject it (the bill), but after a certain time, the Prime Minister can submit it again and even if the Ruler rejects it, the bill still becomes law,” he said.

In her policy speech at the PKR national congress on Saturday, Dr Wan Azizah said the Umno leadership transition plan will not bring any positive changes to the nation’s damaged main administrative system, such as the judiciary, police, Anti-Corruption Agency and Parliament.

“It is not too much for me to say that the transition will bring about an administration which is more like the old ruling regime, with widespread use of the ISA (Internal Security Act),” she said.

She also touched on employees’ welfare, where the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government is going to introduce a RM1,000 minimum wage policy for workers in both the civil and private sector.

“We will also strive to prepare free health services, exempting children of the low-income group from education costs, and making available affordable homes,” she said.

On Sabah and Sarawak, she said PKR was committed to allocating 20% of petroleum royalties to the locals as well as give them a more active role in the Federal Government if the party managed to take over the federal administration.