A new enactment proposed for Johor that will provide significant powers to the sultan over a state housing board is "strange", said constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari.
This, Aziz said, was because it would go against the principle of responsibility, where the state government is held accountable for all policies of the administration, except on matters concerning religion.
"The problem with such an arrangement is how, or who, is to be made responsible? Who (is) to answer or take the blame for whatever happens?" Aziz told Malaysiakini.
He said the position of the ruler is not designed to be answerable to the state assembly.
"That is why we have the notion of responsible government under the parliamentary or Westminster system of democracy,” he said.
"That is to make the government responsible. That also means the people or taxpayers have (the means of) recourse.”
The bill, which will be tabled in the Johor state assembly on Monday, will empower the Johor sultan to oversee the accounts of the mooted Johor Housing and Real Property Board.
'Who will be answerable?'
The sultan is also empowered to appoint four members to the board, determine the remuneration or allowances of the board members and approve the appointment of a director, who can be made chief executive of the board.
The bill aims to form a board to promote and undertake the development of housing and real estate property in Johor.
In contrast, such housing boards that have been set up in other states, such as Selangor and Penang, only involve the state governments.
Aziz queried whether this was what the Johor sultan had sought, or whether the state government was involving the ruler on its own accord.
"Given the new format in Johor, one just wonders what has happened to our constitutional monarchy which underpins our system.
"Are we going back to the pre-Merdeka days?" he asked.
Aziz said such a set-up for the Johor housing board could mean that the ruler must be held accountable for the board.
"Is the ruler willing to be responsible (for the board)? He can't have the best of anything and yet refuse to be made responsible," he said.
This, Aziz said, was because it would go against the principle of responsibility, where the state government is held accountable for all policies of the administration, except on matters concerning religion.
"The problem with such an arrangement is how, or who, is to be made responsible? Who (is) to answer or take the blame for whatever happens?" Aziz told Malaysiakini.
He said the position of the ruler is not designed to be answerable to the state assembly.
"That is why we have the notion of responsible government under the parliamentary or Westminster system of democracy,” he said.
"That is to make the government responsible. That also means the people or taxpayers have (the means of) recourse.”
The bill, which will be tabled in the Johor state assembly on Monday, will empower the Johor sultan to oversee the accounts of the mooted Johor Housing and Real Property Board.
'Who will be answerable?'
The sultan is also empowered to appoint four members to the board, determine the remuneration or allowances of the board members and approve the appointment of a director, who can be made chief executive of the board.
The bill aims to form a board to promote and undertake the development of housing and real estate property in Johor.
In contrast, such housing boards that have been set up in other states, such as Selangor and Penang, only involve the state governments.
Aziz queried whether this was what the Johor sultan had sought, or whether the state government was involving the ruler on its own accord.
"Given the new format in Johor, one just wonders what has happened to our constitutional monarchy which underpins our system.
"Are we going back to the pre-Merdeka days?" he asked.
Aziz said such a set-up for the Johor housing board could mean that the ruler must be held accountable for the board.
"Is the ruler willing to be responsible (for the board)? He can't have the best of anything and yet refuse to be made responsible," he said.
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