Guide book: Kuching can be capital of M’sia


April 11, 2010, Sunday




KUCHING: Do you know that Kuching can be made the capital of Malaysia?
According to a pocket-sized guide to the Federal Constitution, if you want Kuching to be the federal capital of the nation, you will have to lobby parliament to make the change.

“You live in Kuching. You think Kuching is the greatest city in Malaysia. You think it is the nicest place to live in, has the friendliest people and the cleanest river in all of Malaysia.

“You think Kuching should be the federal capital of Malaysia. Unfortunately, the constitution states that Kuala Lumpur is the federal capital of Malaysia ‘until parliament otherwise determines’,” said the guide under the section ‘How does the constitution affect us?”

The guide is one of the three distributed during the launching of a two-day MyConstitution Campaign jointly organised by Advocates Association of Sarawak and The Bar Council at a hotel here yesterday.

The Federal Constitution sets up the country’s democratic system, limits the power of government and sets out the people’s rights.

It consists of 16 parts: the states, religion and law of the federation; fundamental liberties, citizenship; the federation; the states; relations between the federation and the states; financial provisions; elections; the judiciary; the public services; special powers against subversion, organised violence, and acts and crimes prejudicial to the public and emergency powers; general and miscellaneous; additional protections for states of Sabah and Sarawak; temporary and transitional provisions; saving for rulers’ sovereignty, etc; and proceedings against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the rulers.

The guide points out that no person shall be deprived of property under Article 13(1) of the federal constitution.

It explains that if the government wants to acquire your land, it must do so in accordance with the law and this includes giving you sufficient notice and compensation.

It also adds that each state government has the right to declare its own state holidays.

As the federal government uses tax payers’ money, it must prepare a budget every year and present it to parliament to explain how it is going to spend the money, says the guide.

“Before the federal government can use the money, parliament must pass the budget.

“If you are not happy with how the federal government proposes to spend your tax monies in its budget, you can go to your MP and ask him or her to object or to propose an amendment to the budget in parliament.”

If you are arrested by the police and brought to a police station, you have a right to legal representation as Article 5(3) of the constitution states.

The answer is ‘Yes’ if you ask whether the Federal Constitution can be amended.

“In fact, our constitution has been amended several times. Article 159 of the constitution says that in general, the constitution may be amended if the bill is passed by at least two thirds of the members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara,” the guide says.

It adds that the people can help ensure that the power granted to the parliament is not abused.

“Firstly, MPs are elected by Malaysians. If a proposed amendment to the constitution is not popular, then MPs are unlikely to vote for it, otherwise they may not be elected again into parliament in the next general election.

“Secondly, all MPs take an oath that they shall ‘preserve, protect and defend’ the constitution. Some people argue that because of this oath, MPs should not amend the most important and necessary parts of theconstitution,” explains the guide.

For more information about the MyConstitution Campaign, log on to www.perlembagaanku.com, www.malaysianbar.org.my/constitutional_law_committee, www.facebook.com/MyConstitution, www.twitter.com/MyConsti, or www.youtube.com/user/Perlembagaanku.

Quote:

Before the first president of Indonesia was brought down from power by Soeharto during the 60's he was planning to move the capital of Indonesia to Central Kalimantan to a city called Palangka Raya.

Imagine if Kuching is the Captal of Malaysia and Palangkaraya the Capital of Indonesia. Then we would have the capital of three nations on the Island of Borneo, and it becomes the power house of the Malay Archipelago.

speechless

True....

Here...

what are u trying to show niwa-kun...?

a vandalism to the bin...? or the cemented bore hole..?

lol Niwa.. I am wondering too what do you want to express here

that symbol is..... you know... and guest what is the black hole meaning to you guys... see it carefully..

where is the symbol..? am i the only one who cant see it? but really, i've been scrutinize that pic for about 5 mins, but still i found nothing...


as for the hole, i just recognize a clog hole with some trash inside it...

i didnt see anything? nothing....

Talk Rubbish...Rubbish Talk? Talk Shit? Or....whatever...trash...crap!