[April 2, 2008 @ KL] Forum on Interventionist Monarchs - A Complement or a Challenge to Democracy?

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) & The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) cordially invite you to

Forum on Interventionist Monarchs – A Complement or a Challenge to Democracy?

Date: 2nd April 2008 (Wednesday)
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: MCPA, 2nt Floor, KLSCAH
(1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur. Next to the Monorail Maharajalela station)
Road map: http://www.scah.org.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=261&forum=16&jump=1

Speakers:
Dr. Syed Hussin Ali (Deputy President, PKR)
Mr. Gobind Singh Deo MP (DAP)
Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad MP (PAS)
Mr. Malik Imtiaz (President, HAKAM)
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim MP (Minister in Prime Minister's Department) (to be confirm)

Chairperson:
Mr. Wong Chin Huat (vice chairman, CRC-KLSCAH)

The Civil Rights Committee of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) will be holding a forum discussion on the role of constitutional monarch in a democratizing Malaysia.

Constitutional monarchs are seen by some quarters as the guardian of democracy against the wrongdoing of elected politicians. Free from electoral pressure, the sovereign may act in the real interest of the nation better than politicians. From this perspective, many see their Royal Highnesses the Sultan and Crown Prince of Perak as the model national leaders for their stances on judiciary independence and an inclusive nationhood.

The March 8 elections ushered in new political reality which changes the operational setting for "interventionist monarchs". Alongside the Opposition parties, the palaces have been empowered. This does not only happen in Perak and Selangor where new parties have come into power with slim majority in the legislature, but also in Perlis and Terengganu where the incumbent BN secured two-thirds of the legislature. In the standoff in Terengganu, the palace and the legislative majority have had completely opposite preferences.

Is such royal intervention in government formation constitutional according to the letters of the law? Beyond legality, is it in line with the norm of constitutional monarchies where the monarchs are only the figurehead? Can the palace, an unelected institution, dictate who should head the government and who sit in the cabinet? In the context of democratization, is the ascendance of royal power at the expense of the declining hegemonic party desirable?

For the details, please contact with assistant secretary of CRC, Mr. Chan 03-22746645.



The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) is the umbrella organization of over 400 various Chinese community-based organizations in Klang Valley. The Civil Rights Committee (CRC) is a subsidiary committee of the KLSCAH specially tasked with the advocacy of civil rights.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) is a non-governmental Malaysian human rights organization working for a free, equal, just and sustainable society.

[April 1, 2008 @ KL] "皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战"讲座

"皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战"讲座

主办单位 ：隆雪华堂民权委员会 (KLSCAH)、大马人民之声(SUARAM)
日期 ：2008年4月1日（星期二）
时间 ：傍晚七时三十分入场、晚上八时正开始
地点 ：隆雪华堂楼上讲堂
地图 ：http://www.scah.org.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=261&forum=16&jump=1
题目 ：皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战

主讲人 ：
邓章钦（雪州巴生双溪槟榔区州议员）
饶仁毅（董教总法律顾问、独立新闻在线行政总裁）
叶瑞生（大马人民之声执行总监）

主持人 ：廖国华（民权委员会委员）


全国大选过后，玻璃市、霹雳、雪兰莪及登嘉楼各州相继出现皇权抬头，介入州务大臣与行政议员委任等事务，而以登嘉楼州务大臣人选问题引发最大争议。为此，隆雪华堂民权委员会与大马人民之声联办"皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战"讲座，希望以此剖析新政局的发展，反思我国的宪政架构，丰富公众对民主政治的认识。

法律界人士认为，大选后政治版图发生巨变，而主流政党实力消褪之余，发生皇权抬头，对民主转型之影响值得省思。有论者以为这是破坏宪政精神的先声，应该制止皇权扩张；而有论者则以为这些州统治者并未逾越州宪法的限制，并且理应维持族群社会稳定以及摒弃涉嫌贪腐之人选。

主办单位希望讨论以下三个问题：
一、宪政结构：分析联邦宪法以及州宪法有关君权的规定，并从历史的角度反思宪政架构的草创及其意涵，这样的架构是否可欲，值得延续至未来。而80年代起至今数次的宪政危机又意味什么？
二、政局形势发展：不同的政党对此连串事件反应不一，其影响与意涵是什么？
三、民主转型的挑战：反思民主进程，除了政党政治、民间议政，究竟皇权抬头对民主转型的意义是什么，希望就此探索民主国家的转型过程及其挑战。

任何问题，请联络隆雪华堂助理秘书曾先生，电话03-22746645 。

Updated: [March 29, 2008] Analysis of General Election: To Where Democratization of Malaysia

Analysis of General Election:
Where is Democratization of Malaysia Heading Towards?

Date: 29/3/2008 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Updated Venue: Penang Chinese Town Hall (Why?)
Language: English
Panels: Wong Chin Huat (WAMI), Anil Netto (Aliran)
Moderator: Ng Eng Kiat

Sponsor: SUARAM Penang Branch
For any inquiry please contact Lau Shu Shi 012-8756179 / 04-6582285