Zairil: Decentralisation is not unconstitutional
Published: Jan 5, 2015 3:44 AM | Updated: Jan 5, 2015 4:54 AM
Calling for decentralisation of powers from federal to state is not unconstitutional as alleged by Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia , DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said today.
Calling for decentralisation of powers from federal to state is not unconstitutional as alleged by Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia, DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said today.
In a statement responding to Utusan's claims in an editorial yesterday that Zairil's call for decentralisation was "seditious", Zairil said that his call was "entirely constitutional".
"Before simply labelling my proposal as seditious or against the federal constitution, they should first get acquainted with our country’s highest law," he said.
He said that the first two clauses of Article 76A of the federal constitution provides for the Parliament to make amendments to delegate powers to states.
"In other words, the Parliament may - through the provisions of Article 76A - delegate power to state authorities to legislate on matters that typically fall under the federal government," he said.
"Why is it seditious to decentralise, but not when power is snatched away from the states?" Zairil asked further.
He stresed that decentralisation was "explicitly provided for" by the federal constitution.
"Clearly, the BN government has most to lose if powers are decentralised. The fact is that the more power the federal government has, the more patronage it is able to dispense," he noted.
"Hence, the BN government’s inclination to centralise areas of governance that involve management contracts, licensing or infrastructure construction," he added.
Zairil labelled the attempt to call his urging seditious was "nothing more that an act of desperation".
"It is nothing more than an act of desperation by those who are not only ignorant of the provisions of the federal constitution, but also oblivious to the true functions of a federation," he added.
In a statement responding to Utusan's claims in an editorial yesterday that Zairil's call for decentralisation was "seditious", Zairil said that his call was "entirely constitutional".
"Before simply labelling my proposal as seditious or against the federal constitution, they should first get acquainted with our country’s highest law," he said.
He said that the first two clauses of Article 76A of the federal constitution provides for the Parliament to make amendments to delegate powers to states.
"In other words, the Parliament may - through the provisions of Article 76A - delegate power to state authorities to legislate on matters that typically fall under the federal government," he said."Why is it seditious to decentralise, but not when power is snatched away from the states?" Zairil asked further.
He stresed that decentralisation was "explicitly provided for" by the federal constitution.
"Clearly, the BN government has most to lose if powers are decentralised. The fact is that the more power the federal government has, the more patronage it is able to dispense," he noted.
"Hence, the BN government’s inclination to centralise areas of governance that involve management contracts, licensing or infrastructure construction," he added.
Zairil labelled the attempt to call his urging seditious was "nothing more that an act of desperation".
"It is nothing more than an act of desperation by those who are not only ignorant of the provisions of the federal constitution, but also oblivious to the true functions of a federation," he added.
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