The Malaysian Bar understands that a police report has been lodged against its MyConstitution Campaign by Kelab Belia Graduan 1Malaysia (KBGM). KBGM has reportedly voiced concern that the booklets produced under the Campaign (Rakyat Guides) may be seditious.We believe that KBGM’s concerns about the Campaign are misplaced, and stem from a lack of knowledge and understanding of the Campaign as well as the Federal Constitution (Constitution).
The Campaign’s aim is to increase awareness of the Constitution among Malaysians because the Constitution defines our country. It is not the Malaysian Bar’s aim to seek to amend the Constitution. The Campaign is non-partisan and we make every effort to work with all individuals and entities who wish to work with us. To date, our activities have been graced and supported by a Minister and a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, a Chief Minister, two Menteri Besar, Members of Parliament including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, and many other bodies.
KBGM’s main concern seems to be that the Rakyat Guides have informed the Malaysian public that the Constitution says it can be amended by Members of Parliament who are elected by Malaysians. The Constitution does in fact say this. To our knowledge, Parliament has amended the Constitution more than 40 times over the past 53 years with approximately 650 individual amendments.
In general, constitutional amendments require support from two-thirds of Members of Parliament. However, some provisions in the Constitution, like that relating to the special position of the Malays, can only be amended with the consent of the Council of Rulers.
KBGM’s allegation that the Campaign is funded by a foreign NGO that is anti-government is baseless. The MyConstitution Campaign is non-profit. It is funded by the Malaysian Bar and has received contributions from many other bodies, including the Federal Government, State Governments, political and non-political organizations, and the Malaysian public.
The MyConstitution Campaign seeks to inform Malaysians on what the Constitution actually says. It encourages people to read the Constitution themselves, and learn what is and is not in the Constitution. In this regard, we believe that KBGM’s concerns can be alleviated by knowledge of the Constitution. We invite KBGM to a discussion and are willing to work with it so that we may together ‘Merakyatkan Perlembagaan’.
A press conference in relation to this statement will be held tomorrow (7 September 2010) at 12:30pm at the Conference Room 1, 3rd floor, Bar Council, No. 15, Leboh Pasar Besar, 50500 Kuala Lumpur. An invitation to the press conference will follow.
Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar
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