SULTAN HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO ASK FOR MORE NAMES

SULTAN HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO ASK FOR MORE NAMES, SAYS CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERT ABDUL AZIZ BARI.

http://tinyurl.com/lqwuzya

Without mincing words, constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari claimed that the Selangor sultan had NO POWER t...o request for more names with regard to the menteri besar post.

He also said THE REQUEST IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL since THERE IS candidate, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, with CLEAR MAJORITY SUPPORT.

"MAJORITY is the ONLY CRITERIA, thus the sultan has no power to ask for more names when there is already a majority," he told Malaysiakini today.

Aziz pointed out that UNDER PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENT IS OWNED AND ANSWERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE HOUSE, NOT THE PALACE.

And the PALACE's ONLY ROLE, he added, IS TO APPOINT WHOEVER THAT HAS MAJORITY SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE.

Meanwhile, Aziz said the request for more names when there is a clear majority also deviated from the usual practice in Malaysia.

Normally, he added, the sultans, governors, and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong accepted ANY NAME submitted by the majority party.

"Note the smooth changes the Agong and sultans accepted and appointed incoming leaders WITHOUT A FUSS.