The document discusses constitutional supremacy in Malaysia, explaining that the constitution is the supreme law that limits government power. It contrasts this with parliamentary supremacy, emphasizing that in Malaysia, the power of parliament is limited by the written constitution. Additionally, the document outlines various aspects of constitutional law, including the federal setup, fundamental rights, and the role of judicial review.

1. Constitutional Law
9/27/2014
azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty1
Constitutional Supremacy vParliamentary SupremacyLAW 437 : CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I
By: azrin hafiz
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What is a constitutional supremacy?
•Adoctrinewherebytheconstitutionissupremeandthegovernmentrulesinaccordancewiththeconstitutionandatthesametimethepowerofgovernmentislimitedbytheconstitution.
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•TheConstitutionisthesupremelawofMalaysia
•Anylawpassedafter31Aug1957whichisinconsistentwiththeConstitutionshallbevoid,totheextentoftheinconsistency.
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2. Constitutional Law9/27/2014
azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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What is a parliamentary supremacy?
•Aperemptoryruleofconstitutionallaw,thatlegislativeassembliescanmakeorrepeallawsastheyseefit,supremeoverthedictatesofthejudicialbranch,andsubjecttothestatedjurisdictionofthelegislativeassembly,ifany.
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Theadoptionofawrittenandsupremeconstitution,asthechartandcompass,thesailandanchorofanation,hasanumberofdistinctimplications,whichareasfollows:
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3. Constitutional Law9/27/2014
azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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i. A higher lawii. A limited parliamentiii. Federal setupiv. Fundamental rightsv. Judicial reviewvi. Special procedure for amendmentsvii. Subversion and emergency
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1. A higher law
•Ithassuperiorityovertheinstitutionsitcreates,andtakesprecedenceoverallotherlaws.
Constitution
Ordinary Law
prevail
unconstitutional
X
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TheruleofconstitutionalsupremacystatedinArticle4(1)oftheFederalConstitution:“thisConstitutionisthesupremelawoftheFederationandanylawpassedafterMerdekaDaywhichisinconsistentwiththisConstitutionshall,totheextentoftheinconsistency,bevoid”.
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4. Constitutional Law
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azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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a. supreme law–higher legal validity than any other rule in society whether federal or state, enacted by Parliament or SLA. b. federation–refers to the State of Malaysia including federal government. c. any law–in lights of Art 160(2). Refers to written law, common law & recognisedcustom. d. after Merdeka Day–after 31 Aug 1957 e. to the extent of the inconsistency–an act may not be void as whole, only the inconsistent part may be void = doctrine of severability.
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The consequences of Article 4(1) are far-reachingArt 4(1) Art 128 + Art 162(6)
strengthened by
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Article128conferspoweronthesuperiorcourtstodeterminetheconstitutionalvalidityofFederalandstatelaws. Article162(6)laysdownthatanycourtortribunalapplyingtheprovisionsofanypre-MerdekalawmayapplyitwithsuchmodificationasmaybenecessarytobringitintoaccordwiththeConstitution.
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5. Constitutional Law
9/27/2014
azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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Case: LohKooiChoonv Government of Malaysia [1977] 2 MLJ 187
•RajaAzlanShahFJ:
“theconstitutionisthesupremelawofthelandandembodying3bodyconcepts:
Fundamental rightsDistribution of sovereign power
Separation of power
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Case: PhangChin Hock v Public Prosecutor [1980] 1 MLJ 70
•“Federallaw”includesalllawswhichParliamentiscompetenttopass,includingfederallawspassedtoamendtheconstitution,whichamendments,ifenactedaccordingtoprescribedprocedure,arevalidevenifinconsistentwithfundamentalliberties:anamendment,dulymade,„becomesanintegralpartoftheConstitution,itisthesupremelaw,andaccordinglyitcannotbesaidtobeatvariancewithitself‟.
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2. A limited parliamentYang diPertuanAgong
Parliament
Court Attorney General
Auditor General
Senator
National Land CouncilConsolidated Funds
National Development Plan
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6. Constitutional Law
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azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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Case: Ah Thianv Government of Malaysia [1976] 2 MLJ 112
•LordPresidentTunSuffianaffirmedthesupremacyoftheConstitution:
•„ThedoctrineofthesupremacyofParliamentdoesnotapplyinMalaysia.HerewehaveawrittenConstitution.ThepowerofParliamentandthestatelegislaturesinMalaysiaislimitedbytheConstitutionandtheycannotmakeanylawtheyplease’.
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Types of Limits on Parliament‟s power
Substantive Limits
•Limitsrelatingtosubjectmatterincluding:
-jurisdictionalerror
-restrictfundamentalrights
-violatingthefederal- statedivisionofcompetence.
Procedural Limits
•Abouthowpowermustbeexercised.
•Inperforminglegislativefunction,parliamentisobligedtocomplywiththeproceduralrequirementofArt2(b),38(4),66,68,159&161E
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3. Federal set up
•Malaysiaisafederationofstates.
•Thereisadivisionoflegislativeexecutive, judicialandfinancialpowersbetweenthefederalandstateassemblies.
•ThisdivisionisentrenchedintheschemeoftheConstitution.
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7. Constitutional Law
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3. Federal-State Division of Power
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Financial PowersFederal
State
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Art 74 + Art 77 + 9thScheduleFederal List
State ListConcurrent List
Supplementary State List for Sabah & SarawakSupplementary Concurrent List for Sabah & Sarawak
28
13
14
6
9
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4. Fundamental rights
•TheFederalConstitution(inArticles5to13) containsachapteronfundamentalliberties.
•ThoughParliamentisgivenextensivepowerstoregulatetheselibertiesonawiderangeofgrounds,itcannotbedeniedthattheconstitutionalprovisionsdocreate„obstacles…inthepathofthosewhowouldlayrashhandsuponthearkoftheConstitution‟(asperLordBirkenheadinMcCawleyvTheKing)
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8. Constitutional Law
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azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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•Superiorcourtjudgeshaveshowngreatunwillingnesstoenforcehumanrights.
•Areluctancetosetasidefederalorstatelegislativeenactmentsonthegroundofviolationofhumanrightssafeguards.
•Example:MenonvGovernmentofMalaysia[1987]–sectionofthePensions(Amendment) Actwhichdiscriminatedagainstnon-residentpensionswasheldbytheHighCourtviolateArticle8.Thedecisionwasreversedonappeal[1990]
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5. Judicial review
•Constitutionalsupremacyismaintainedbygivingtothecourtsthepowertoreviewexecutiveandlegislativeactsonconstitutionalgrounds.
•HundredsofexecutiveactionshavebeeninvalidatedbythecourtsforviolationoftherequirementsoftheConstitution.
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Constitutional Challenges: a. 4against pre-Merdekalawsb.14against post Merdeka laws c. of these 18decisionsi.6reversed on appeal ii. 2rendered ineffective
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9. Constitutional Law
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azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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Case: Mamatbin Daud& Ors v Government of Malaysia [1988] 1 MLJ 119
•The issue was as to who should have enacted section 298A of the Penal Code (doing acts which were likely to cause disunity among persons professing the religion of Islam) –the Federal Parliament or the State Assembly concerned?
•Application of the doctrine of pith & substance
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Jurisdiction & locus standi
•InAhThianvGovernmentofMalaysia[1976]2MLJ112at113,SuffianLPsummeduptheprinciplesoflegislativereview.
•Thecourtshavepowertodeclareawrittenlawinvalidononeofthethreegrounds: If it violates the federal-state division of powers
If either Federal or State written law is inconsistent with the Constitution
If a State written law is inconsistent with a Federal law
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•Thepowertodeclareanylawinvalidonthegroundofviolationoffederal-statedivisionofpowers–issubjecttoseveralrestrictions:
a)Thechallengemustliebywayofaproceedingforadeclarationthatthelawisinvalidontheground:
Art4(3)
b)Theproceedingmaybebroughtby:
-anindividualvanotherindividual,
-anindividualvaGovernment,
-aGovernmentvanotherGovernment;or
-aGovernmentvanindividual:Art4(4)
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10. Constitutional Law
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azrin.hafiz / BLS (Hons)/ UiTM Law Faculty
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•c.TheFederationandtheStateareentitledtobeapartytosuchproceedingstoensurethatnoadverserulingismadewithoutgivingtherelevantgovernmentanopportunitytoarguetothecontrary.
•d.OnlytheFederalCourthasjurisdictiontodeterminewhetheralawmadebyParliamentorbyaStatelegislatureisinvalid:Art128(1).
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Reference
•Shad SaleemFaruqi(2008), Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia, Star Publication
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Thank you!
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