Dr M: Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, not absolute

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is a country that practises a constitutional and not an absolute monarchy, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir's remarks comes soon after Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar statement, who asked certain quarters to stay out of state affair.

"We have stated that the Federated States practices a system of constitutional monarchy, not absolute monarchy," said Dr Mahathir.

He said that while Johor may have its own state constitution, they have agreed to be part of the country's administrative system.

"If we assume that the prime minister or mentri besar is chosen by the King, then we are not a democratic country.

"This is because the rakyat has chosen the party that has the right to pick the MB – and if the Rakyat's right is denied, we are no longer a democracy.

"We will become a country that practises absolute monarchy," said the Prime Minister.

Dr Mahathir suggested that there should be debates on whether to accept the present system of constitutional monarchy.

"If that (the right for the party to chose MB) is abolished, then we can do away with general elections," he added.