'Adopting Rukunegara in constitution will affect status quo'

Former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad believed that the incorporation of the Rukunegara as the preamble to the Federal Constitution would compromise the interest of the Malays and bumiputera.

Abdul Hamid said if judges were required to consider the Rukunegara in interpreting the Federal Constitution, it would lead to rulings that against existing laws and policies.

For example, he believed that the Universiti Teknologi Mara's policy of admitting bumiputera students only could violate the the Rukunegara.

"So once the Rukunegara becomes preamble to the constitution, all laws and executive action which gives priority to the Malays and bumiputera, will become unconstitutional and invalid," he said.