How Mahathir strengthened democracy

Dr M may not have intended it, but his insistence on the 1993 constitutional amendment was good for democracy, says Wan Saiful.

PETALING JAYA: The head of a think tank has credited Dr Mahathir Mohamad for strengthening Malaysian democracy through a constitutional amendment in 1993, but acknowledged that it might not have been the former PM’s true intention.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), made the remark as a comment on Mahathir’s apology for pushing through the amendment.

Speaking to FMT, Wan Saiful noted that the amendment removed the need for the Yang diPertuan Agong’s assent on any bill before it becomes law.

In making his apology early this week, Mahathir admitted that the amendment had enabled the National Security Council Act (NSC) to come into force without the King’s assent.

Wan Saiful recalled that the push for the 1993 amendment was surrounded by controversy and said Mahathir’s intentions might not have been geared towards strengthening democracy.

“However, the result is the same,” he said. “Essentially, the amendment ensured that laws are passed by those elected by the people.”

He added that Malaysians should not be thinking of giving powers to those who are not accountable to the public.

“If there are people who feel the NSC Act is wrong, then they should hold the government accountable through the ballot box,” he said.

The 1993 constitutional amendment came in the wake of a lengthy crisis involving the Johor royal family after a hockey coach was allegedly roughed up by the then Sultan and one of his sons.

The incident sparked a debate on the immunity of the rulers under the laws existing then.