Johor Sultan calls on Malaysia's government to 'restore powers of Rulers'

Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has said that the amendments to remove the monarchy's immunity had been made for political or individual interests. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has said he hopes the Malaysian government will rectify the amendments to the Federal Constitution involving the powers of the monarchy.

Sultan Ibrahim said the amendments to remove their immunity had been made for political or individual interests.

"I hope that this could be rectified," said Sultan Ibrahim in his royal address at the opening of the three-day 2016 Conference of Parliamentary and State Assembly Speakers of Malaysia at Persada Johor International Convention Centre in Johor on Saturday (May 7).

Sultan Ibrahim said that under the Federal Constitution and State constitutions, the legislature is made up of two components - the King and Parliament at the federal level and the Sultan and state legislative assemblies at the state level.

"It is not proper to limit or abolish the power of the King or the Sultan in examining and giving their Royal Assent for laws. This just reduces the role of the King and the Sultans to mere rubber stamps for laws passed by the Parliament or the state legislative assemblies."

He said that in the past, the Malays united against the Malayan Union when the power of the Malay rulers was reduced and they were forced to accept British advisers.

But now a Malay political party has limited the power of the King to consider new laws, said Sultan Ibrahim. Worse was the amendment forcing the King to accept the advice of the Cabinet, he added.

On Johor, Sultan Ibrahim said he did not interfere in the administration of the state.

He added that he has a good relationship with the state's Chief Minister Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

"I know many people are jealous of the relationship between us. My advice to them is don't be a busybody," he said.

"I might be labelled as vocal but that is my style, even my royal address (for this event) was penned by me and not by the state government ," he added.

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