Reflecting on Dewan Negara’s role

THE new President of the Dewan Negara, Senator Datuk S. A. Vignes­waran, is reported to have said that “his main aim is to ensure that the Dewan Negara was not seen as a mere rubber stamp by the people.” Many patriotic citizens likewise would like to see the Dewan Negara as part of the check-and-balance mechanism of the country, as was intended by the forefathers of the Constitution.

Constitutional role: The Consti­tution of Malaysia and the Standing Orders of the Senate envisage these functions for the Senate: