Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / Andrew Harding -- Preface / Andrew Harding -- Notes and Abbreviations / Andrew Harding -- Part 1 Foundations / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 1 Pre-Colonial Constitutional History / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 2 Constitutional Developments during the Colonial Period / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 3 The Emergence of the Modern Constitution / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 4 The Legal Basis of the Modern Constitution / Andrew Harding -- Part 2 Institutions / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 5 The Rulers / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 6 The Legislature / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 7 The Executive / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 8 The Judiciary / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 9 Emergency Powers / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 10 Federalism / Andrew Harding -- Part 3 Citizen and State / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 11 Political Rights / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 12 Religious and Cultural Rights / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 13 Personal Liberties / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 14 Equality and Special Privileges / Andrew Harding -- Chapter 15 Administrative Law and the Malaysian State / Andrew Harding -- Epilogue: A Constitutional Audit / Andrew Harding -- Bibliography / Andrew Harding -- Table of Cases / Andrew Harding -- Table of Constitutional Provisions / Andrew Harding -- Index / Andrew Harding.

This book aims to give a comprehensive picture of law, government and the constitution in Malaysia, and to set constitutional developments in their proper political and social context. It is written in such a way that lawyers may see how perspectives other than the purely legal can enrich the understanding of constitutional issues in Malaysia and that others may comprehend the lawyer's perspective on these issues. There has been an increasing interest in constitutional issues in Malaysia since the mid-1980s following a number of important events, including the advent of judicial activism and the curtailment of royal powers. There is now a pressing need for a reappraisal of the Malaysian constitution in terms of its political and social dimensions and dynamics, and the extent of its adherence to, or its interpretation of, those principles which are collectively known as `constitutionalism', that is, democratic government, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the observance of fundamental human rights and liberties. The book examines how the constitution has adjusted to its environment, how it actually operates and how its abstractions differ from reality. The author concludes that the principles of the constitution have been eroded to such a degree that a new constitutional settlement is needed - one which makes it clear what the basic tenets of the Malaysian polity are.

English

Description based on print version record.