Under Islam, Sultan cannot be above God : Academic

Constitutional monarchy is a concept where the king rules according to certain values and regulations, said to a law expert.

Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, a Civil Law Professor with Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, said that the constitution was a set of values and restrictions on the power of the ruler.

He said although the concept of constitutional monarchy was linked to democracy, it had in fact been practised even before the coming of the British to this country.

"This is because the concept of the ruler in the Malay Sultanate is based on Islam and under this concept, the one with power and sovereignty actually is Allah (SWT). The concept of absolute monarchy is not accepted in Islam," he said in his lecture entitled 'The Federal Constitution and Power of the Rulers'.

The lecture, at the Old Building, Balai Berita, was organised by the Malaysian Association of Former Berita Harian Journalists (PBWBHM), which had its sixth and seventh general meeting at the same venue, before the lecture.

The meeting was opened by the executive director, News and Editorial Operations, Media Prima Berhad Ahmad A Talib. Also present was PBWBHM president Dr Alias Mohamed.

Abdul Aziz said one of the important elements of the constitution was democracy and this explained why the people were given the right to change the government through the general election.

Meanwhile, Alias, in his speech at the meeting, said that Malay journalists would gather in Malacca for the first time for the 'Congress of Nusantara Malay Journalists' in May 2011.

- Bernama