A REVIEW OF THE MALAYSIAN JURISPRUDENCE OF CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION

Headnote

ABSTRACT

This article is a preliminary review of the prevailing approaches of constitutional interpretation applied in the notable judgments by the Malaysian Apex court. The application of various constitutional interpretive approaches by the Malaysian judiciary varies according to various theories and canons of interpretation. For the purpose of this review, a qualitative method is employed through doctrinal analysis and case studies. It is discovered that the application of the various approaches does not always correspond to the philosophy underlying them. Such inconsistency in the understanding of the approaches and their application can cause distortion in the jurisprudence of interpreting the Constitution. This article concludes by offering practical insights regarding Malaysian jurisprudence in constitutional interpretation. It is hoped that this brief comparative narrative will be advantageous as a preliminary discourse to encourage further research on the topic.

Keywords: Malaysian Constitutional Jurisprudence, Comparative Constitutional Interpretation, Interpretive Approaches.

ABSTRAK

Makalah ini memberi sorotan awal tentang pendekatan pentafsiran Perlembagaan yang lazim digunakan dalam penghakiman-penghakiman penting oleh Mahkamah Tertinggi di Malaysia. Pemakaian pendekatan pentafisran perlembagaan yang pelbagai oleh badan kehakiman Malaysia berbeza-beza mengikut teori dan kaedah pentafsiran yang pelbagai. Bagi tujuan sorotan ini, kaedah kualitatif digunapakai melalui analisa doktrinal dan kajian kes. Didapati pemakaian pelbagai pendekatan tersebut tidaklah selalunya bertepatan dengan falsafah yang mendasari pendekatan-pendekatan tersebut. Ketidakselarasan dalam kefahaman tentang pendekatan-pendekatan tersebut dan pemakaiannya boleh menyebabkan kecelaruan dalam jurisprudens pentafsiran Perlembagaan. Makalah ini diakhiri dengan pencerapan yang praktikal mengenai jurisprudens pentafsiran Perlembagaan. Adalah menjadi harapan agar penerangan ringkas yang bersifat perbandingan ini memberi manfaat sebagai wacana awalan bagi menggalakkan kajian lanjut mengenai topik ini.

Kata Kunci: Jurisprudens Perlembagaan Malaysia, Pentafsiran Perlembagaan Perbandingan, Pendekatan Pentafsiran.

INTRODUCTION

The Malaysian Constitution was drafted based on the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy alongside constitutional monarchy based on the sovereignty of the Rulers.1 The English common law exerted a strong influence on the court's interpretation of law in the newly independent Malaya. The courts also drew on precedents from other Commonwealth countries such as India and Australia, thus adhering to the common law doctrines of separation of powers, rule of law and constitutional supremacy. The courts, reinforced by Privy Council decisions, were entrusted to interpret the law and employ the common law as modified according to local circumstances.

In the decades following Merdeka, constitutional...