Don't run, don't delay, start allocation talks now - PM tells opposition
Published: Jul 9, 2024 3:05 AM | Updated: Jul 9, 2024 8:35 AM
PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (Harapan-Tambun) has told the opposition to hasten the negotiation for allocations.
He said there was no need for the opposition to resort to running or jogging for its allocations - a jab against Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Independent-Muar) who recently ran 200km from Muar to Parliament to raise funds for his constituency.
“There’s no need to run or jog, no need...
While the 15 years clause was not directly included in the FC, it was part and parcel of the Reid Commission Report of 1955, which formed the basis of crafting the FC. The Supreme Court has in the past, referred to the Reid Commission Report for guidance when interpreting the Federal Constitution, when clarity was needed. So it is not an inconsequential document, but even today, a highly relevant document, which needs to be referred to when there is talk of a Social Contract. Tengku Abdul Rahman had, at the time of crafting the FC, had given his assurance to the other parties that he was confident that the Malays would be able to catch up in fifteen years or less, and thought that it would be sooner rather than later that this would happen, and on that basis, there would be no need to include the sunset clause in the FC directly. It was on that basis, that the parties proceeded. The fifteen years would have expired in 1972, and perhaps it was for this reason, that those who instigated the 1969 riots, and subsequently managed to engineer a 'silent coup' through the setting up of the all-powerful National Operations Council, which effectively took away TAR's powers as PM. They were led by Tun Razak, a known 'ultra' and Deputy PM at that time.