The functions of constitutional monarchy in Malaysian political system: The perceptions of Malay community

The monarchy plays a vital role in Malaysia’s political system whether it is at federal or state level. Its formal duties are stated within the Malaysian constitution. It is a continuity to promote political and ruling stability. Hence Malaysia practises a system of government based on the Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy. The objectives of this paper are to study the extent of the monarchy roles as stated in the constitution. In addition, it is also to evaluate the perception of the Malay community towards the relationship between the monarchy and the government as well as the constitutional monarchy and the general community. The study limits its focus only to the role of monarchy in Malaysia and will also discuss about the additional roles of the monarchy besides its formal roles. The study will focus more on library research. Data are obtained through printed materials produced by local and international writers and publishers. The Malaysian Constitution will be the primary reference to the study. The perceptions of the Malay community are obtained through observations and reading materials that represents a part, if not the whole, of Malay’s perception towards the issue. Through this study, it can be summarised that the Malaysian Constitution bestows special privileges to the monarchy system. Thus, the boundary listed in the constitution ensures that the monarchy system continues to be revered. Loyalty to the King becomes a tradition and custom to the Malay community

Antarctica

His Majesty’s Visit to Antarctica This is photographic journey of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di–Pertuan Agong Al–Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al–Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al–Muktafi Billah Shah, Yang DiPertuan Agong XIII of Malaysia to Antarctica. It tells of His Majesty’s personal reflections and impressions through interviews with Prof. Dato’ Dr. Azizan Abu Samah and Tan Sri Dr. Salleh Mohd. Nor. His Majesty expressed admiration for the scientific research being undertaken by Malaysian scientists and their international counterparts on that cold continent and hoped that more Malaysian scientist will commit to undertake research in Antarctica. During the visit to Scott and Shackelton Huts, His Majesty admired and respected the courage and tenacity of the early explorers to that icy continent before the discovery of modern travel and technologies. His Majesty also expressed his admiration of the scientists who had dedicated their careers to research on the icy continent. This book also given a brief description of the Antarctic continent, the highest, driest and coldest continent in the world. It also tells about the Antarctic Treaty System and Malaysia’s involvement in Antarctic research. It concludes with a brief look at the future now that Malaysia has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty System

UCAPAN TAHNIAH KEPADA NAIB CANSELOR

Seluruh warga Universiti Putra Malaysia merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada YBhg. Prof. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah, Naib Canselor UPM, kerana dianugerahkan oleh Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M) yang membawa gelaran Tan Sri. Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota tersebut dianugerahkan kepada YBhg. Prof. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah sempena Ulang Tahun Hari Keputeraan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong pada 5 Jun 2010, bersamaan 22 Jamadilakhir 1431H. YBhg. Prof. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah pernah dianugerahkan Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (D.P.M.S) yang membawa gelaran Dato’ oleh DYMM Sultan Selangor pada 11 Disember 2006, Ahli yang Kedua (Dato’ Paduka) bagi Darjah Kebesaran Setia Mahkota Kelantan Yang Amat Terbilang (D.P.S.K) oleh DYMM Sultan Kelantan pada 1 April 2007 dan dianugerahkan oleh DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong, Pingat Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) yang membawa gelaran Datuk sempena Hari Keputeraan Agong pada 2 Jun 2007

Institusi Raja-Raja Melayu: peranannya dalam memelihara kedudukan Islam dari sudut perlembagaan.

Pemerintahan beraja telah sedia wujud dalam sistem sosial di negeri-negeri Melayu sejak berabad-abad lamanya. Menurut sistem beraja ini, raja mempunyai kuasa mutlak dalam setiap pemerintahan dan pentadbiran negeri khususnya sebelum penjajahan Inggeris. Apabila Persekutuan Tanah Melayu mencapai kemerdekaan pada tahun 1957, institusi pemerintahan beraja itu diteruskan dengan beberapa pindaan supaya disesuaikan dengan konsep demokrasi berparlimen dan raja berperlembagaan. Institusi beraja juga dikaitkan dengan persoalan agama kerana, mereka adalah ketua agama di negeri masing-masing dan bertanggungjawab menjaga agama Islam serta sebarang pindaan yang ingin dibuat terhadap agama Islam perlu mendapat perkenan raja-raja dahulu. Rasional peranan Majlis Raja-Raja dalam soal ini ialah perlembagaan hanya menekankan persoalan pentadbiran negara. Maka, dalam hal persoalan agama dibiarkan untuk dikendalikan oleh institusi beraja. Makalah ini akan melihat peranan institusi beraja dalam menjaga kedudukan Islam berdasarkan Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia

The influence of nitrogen application on the growth and mineral content of two African nightshade species (Solanum spp.) cultivated in Kenya

Plant growth, leaf nitrogen and nitrate-N, and chemical content of two African nightshades, Solanum villosum and S. sarrachoides under different nitrogen levels was investigated in field experiments in 2001 and 2004. Plants were supplied with 0, 1.3, 2.6 and 5.2 g N/plant. Both African nightshade species responded similarly to nitrogen supply. Leaf area and dry matter production of plants supplied with nitrogen was 4-8 times that of plants not supplied with nitrogen. Plants supplied with nitrogen had significantly higher specific leaf area but had a lower leaf to stem ratio (p≤0.05). Leaf nitrogen concentration was significantly higher (p≤0.05) in plants supplied with nitrogen. However, when expressed on a leaf area basis, the differences in the leaf nitrogen content between nitrogen treatments were minimal. Leaf blade nitrate-N tended to be high in young plants especially those that were supplied with nitrogen. The species showed significant differences (p≤0.05) in the mineral content. It was concluded that African nightshade responded to limited nitrogen by drastic reduction in leaf area to maintain the leaf nitrogen content.Key words: Leaf nitrogen, leaf to stem ratio, mineral content, nitrates, Solanum sarrachoides, Solanum villosu

Emergency powers and parliamentary government in Malaysia: Constitutionalism in a new democracy

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis is a situational study of the use and exercise of emergency powers in Malaysia, undertaken from the perspective of the principles underlying the Malaysian Constitution. The primary focus and perspective are Malaysian, and I use comparative materials where I consider they may help to Illuminate that perspective and the way in which emergency powers have been used. A unique situation has been created whereby the Malaysian Government has the option of taking measures under one or other of two legal regimes. The thesis, therefore, examines the development of this parallel government system. it includes discussion of the considerations that animated writing reserve powers into the Malaysian Constitution and the near Institutionalisation of the state of emergency In Malaysia, using this historical background to focus on the role of the judiciary In crisis situations, the incorporation of certain traditional elements of Malay society into the Constitution, and the existence of racial 'bargaining' in developing the Constitution. The thesis then examines the distinct legal order created by a state of emergency, within the context of the reality of the Malaysian polity. Hence, there is an examination of the four actual instances when an emergency was proclaimed in the country. An examination is also undertaken of the various amendments made to Article 150 over the years which has reduced much of the safeguards originally built into the provision. This examination suggests that Article 150 in Its present form, is debilitative of parliamentary government largely because of the dual system of law-making created by a state of emergency. The thesis therefore provides an insight into the working of a major constitutional democracy seeking to reconcile the need to maintain emergency powers and realise the objective of a parliamentary system envisaged by its Federal Constitution

Keadilan teras kepimpinan raja-raja Melayu: dari era tradisi ke kontemporari

Kajian ini membincangkan mengenai konsep keadilan dalam kepimpinan raja-raja Melayu yang menjadi fokus pembicaraan karya-karya ketatanegaraan Melayu tradisional. Hal ini menjadikan karya-karya ketatanegaraan Melayu tradisional amat penting sebagai wadah pembentukan peradaban manusia bagi melahirkan pemimpin yang adil dalam memenuhi tanggungjawabnya sebagai khalifah Allah dan sekali gus hamba-Nya di muka bumi. Bagi menganalisis konsep keadilan raja-raja Melayu semasa era tradisi, data kajian melibatkan karya-karya ketatanegaraan Melayu tradisional yang dihasilkan atau disalin dari abad ke-15 hingga ke-19. Antara lain karyakarya tersebut meliputi Taj al-Salatin, Bustan al-Salatin, Kitab Nasihat Raja-Raja, dan Thamarat al-Muhimmah. Analisis konsep keadilan raja-raja Melayu dalam era kontemporari pula bersumberkan Perlembagaan Malaysia. Kajian ini mengaplikasikan pendekatan adab berasaskan model kerangka pemikiran Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas (2001). Hasil kajian membuktikan bahawa karya-karya ketatanegaraan Melayu tradisional berperanan sebagai penanam adab bagi melahirkan pemimpin yang adil, yang seimbang dari segi rohani dan jasmani serta ukhrawi dan duniawi. Karya-karya ketatanegaraan Melayu tradisional menjadi panduan kepada khalayak menjalin hubungan dengan Tuhan selaku Pencipta (hablumminallah) dan hubungan sesama manusia (hablumminannas) di samping menjelaskan status peranan bagi setiap manusia di dunia - sebagai khalifah Allah dan pada masa yang sama selaku hamba-Nya. Prinsip keadilan ini diteruskan oleh raja-raja Melayu dalam era kontemporari