Dr M echoes BN S'gor's stand on sultan's powers

Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed doubt that the state constitutional amendment mooted by the Selangor government would restore the sultan's power in appointing the top three civil servants.

This is because, like the Selangor Opposition, he believes that the ruler has always had the power to appoint those occupying top posts in the government.

"The constitution says that prime minister, chief minister and menteri besar advises the ruler. Whether or not the ruler heeds the advice is up to him," he said when met at the Viva Palestina launch on Saturday night.

Asked if reverting the Selangor constitution, particularly Article 52 (1) which relates to the appointment of the state secretary, legal advisor and financial officer, to pre-1993 conditions would restore the ruler's powers, Mahathir (right) rhetorically asked: "When was the constitution even changed?"

Last week, Selangor BN deputy liaison chief Noh Omar reportedly maintained that the sultan has always had a say in the appointments of state secretary, legal advisor and financial officer, even post-1993.

He argued that while the amendment had meant that the appointment was made on the advice of the public services department, the federal chief secretary has always sought the consent of the sultan.

Article 52 (1) of the Selangor constitution makes no mention of the ruler and states that the three appointments shall be made "by the appropriate service commission".

In an immediate reaction, constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari ticked off Mahathir for either "lying or simply out of mind".

"Didn't he realise what he did in 1983 (trying to remove power of assent to bill and power to declare emergency) and 1993 (limiting the power of pardon and privilege of immunity).

"And in 1994, he amended the constitution behind the rulers back (bypassing the Agong and the rulers thereby making bills law even
without the royal assent)."

He said that it was also in 1994 that the constitution was amended to mean that "considering advice" to be taken as "accepting advice" thereby making Agong and the rulers "mere bystanders".

'S'poreans only say what they're allowed to'

On a separate matter, the nation's longest serving premier responded with his trademark sarcasm when asked about Malay Singaporeans who were angered that by his remark that they were marginalised in the island nation.

"This is what you call freedom of speech. In Singapore you can say whatever you want as long as the government likes it," he said, in a pointed rebuke to both his detractors and the Singapore government.

Earlier in his opening speech Mahathir, who has been labeled anti-semitic for his hardline stance against Zionism, said the tragedy of the holocaust has not stopped Israel from repeating the same.

"I believe the figure of those who died in the holocaust is six million. If you say it was 5,999,999, you will be labeled anti-semitic.

"The Jews have learnt nothing...and are now happily inflicting suffering on others,"said the elder statesman who blamed the media for not highlighting the Palestine issue enough in Malaysia.

Children shot in the chest

The highlight of the night was a speech from journalist Lauren Booth, who has devoted much of her work to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

Interestingly, Booth (left) is the sister-in-law of former British premier Tony Blair, who has faced criticism over his role in the war on Iraq, not least of all from Mahathir who has all but branded him a murderer.

In her heart-wrenching presentation, Booth spoke of a mother from the al-Soumani family who lost 26 members in an Israeli attack, 10 of which children, with the youngest aged three.

She related how a mother from the family had asked if Booth wanted to meet her sons, and proceeded to show a photo of her three children, all under the age of 10, shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers.

"Let there be no more talk of the Palestinian terrorists and the Israeli moral army. I have met their mother," she said.

Viva Palestina, an NGO which runs projects to assist Palestinians living on the West Bank, has raised RM350,000 and is seeking to hit their target of RM500,000 by May.