IPOH: The government should consider setting up a Constitutional Court to hear various rights and legislative issues related to the Federal Constitution which is now a polemic.
Gua Musang MP, who is also Umno's Council of Advisors chairman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, proposed that the government amend the constitution to pave the way for the court.
“The setting up of the court can solve issues raised by many quarters, such as who are immigrants and who are not, original inhabitants, and so on," he added.
He said this when met by reporters after appearing as guest of talk show, 'Masa Depan Orang Melayu' organised by Kelab Bakti Keledang at the Royal Perak Golf Club here last night (Saturday).
Razaleigh said the proposed court should be placed within the existing judicial system, but its focus is only on solving cases involving rights and legislation related to the Federal Constitution.
Earlier, at the talkshow, he said many young people do not have a good grasp of history and upholding historical facts, and this caused them to become ignorant of matters discussed and agreed upon during the Merdeka talks in London in 1956.
He said the talks attended by British delegates, representatives of the Malay rulers, and Chinese and Indian leaders agreed that the Malays were automatic citizens of Tanah Melayu, while the British Straits Settlement people, the Chinese and Indian communities were given a choice of becoming part of a new independent state or British citizens.
He said an additional clause was made that that Islam is religion of the Federation, in return to accepting the Chinese and Indians to become citizens of Tanah Melayu without conditions.
Razaleigh said Malay leaders at the time were also forward thinking when they willingly changed the name Tanah Melayu to Malaya upon independence.
He said, unfortunately there are now certain people who are disputing the position of Islam as a Federal religion. The setting up of a Constitutional Court can help to resolve the polemic, he added.