KUCHING: It is too late for former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to regret and feel sorry for his decision of amending the Federal Constitution to restrict the role of Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the legislative branch, says Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Still, Abdul Karim – also Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports – believes that ‘it is better late than never’, as far as Dr Mahathir is concerned.
“Tun Mahathir, during his tenure as prime minister, had curtailed the powers of the Agong as the final ‘safeguard’ for the passing of the laws.
“He also removed judges whom he felt, back then, were a hindrance to him. It’s good that he has finally realised his mistake and apologised for it,” he said.
Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said now that Dr Mahathir had admitted his mistake, it would be up to the present federal administration to relook into these amendments to the Federal Constitution and review on the need to revert it to how it was before.
In 1994, the Malaysian government, led by Dr Mahathir, passed amendments to the Constitution that would allow any Bill passed in the Parliament and the Senate to become law within 30 days – with or without the royal assent.
Dr Mahathir said it would seem that due to the amendments, the new National Security Council (NSC) Act had become operational, even though the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had not signed it.
