The Constitution And The Federal Idea In Peninsula Malaysia

Abstract

Federalism as a concept seeks to outline a constitutional framework which provides for a system of levels of government within which the Central and State Government are but parts of that system. This paper outlines the constitutional framework of federalism in Peninsular Malaysia and as such the constitutional status of States in relation to each other and to the Centre. Initially discussion centres on the arguments over the federal ide which were presented at the time of constitution-making, the ensuing federal framework provided by the 1957 Constitution and the subsequent political, legislative and judicial processes which have had significant impact on the federal idea.