Reports of the government’s intention to declare a state of emergency – ostensibly due to the Covid-19 pandemic – have put citizens in a mixed state of anger, panic, and confusion. While this blog post can do little to alleviate the former two emotions, it will at least endeavour to give at least some clarity on whether…
A storm is brewing in the Southern State of Johor. There are reports suggesting that the palace is unhappy with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM)’s choice of Chief Minister. Tun Mahathir, who is head of PPBM, is not pulling any punches. What is the role of the monarchy in the appointment of Chief Minister? Do…
Law & Behold is a series aimed at improving constitutional literacy among Malaysians, done in collaboration with The Malaysian Bar and the University of Malaya’s Faculty of Law. In this 3rd episode, Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi (Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Malaya) and I discuss the role and function of the…
This article first appeared at The Malay Mail on 10 Apr 2019. 1. Can the Sultan decree (“menitahkan”) for the MB to be replaced/resign? First and foremost, Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy. It is not an absolute monarchy. As a general rule, at the state level, all acts of the Sultan must be done in…
This article first appeared at MalaysiaKini on 8 Apr 2019. I refer to the alleged presentation by several academicians to the Conference of Rulers dated April 2, which has been circulating in the media lately. I recognise that the government has decided to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and also…