Institusi Raja-Raja Melayu: Peranannya dalam Memelihara Kedudukan Islam dari Sudut Perlembagaan

Abstract

ABSTRAK: Pemerintahan beraja telah sedia wujud dalam sistem sosial di negeri-negeri Melayu sejak berabad-abad lamanya. Menurut sistem beraja ini, raja mempunyai kuasa mutlak dalam setiap pemerintahan dan pentadbiran negeri khususnya sebelum penjajahan Inggeris. Apabila Persekutuan Tanah Melayu mencapai kemerdekaan pada tahun 1957, institusi pemerintahan beraja itu diteruskan dengan beberapa pindaan supaya disesuaikan dengan konsep demokrasi berparlimen dan raja berperlembagaan. Institusi beraja juga dikaitkan dengan persoalan agama kerana, mereka adalah ketua agama di negeri masing-masing dan bertanggungjawab menjaga agama Islam serta sebarang pindaan yang ingin dibuat terhadap agama Islam perlu mendapat perkenan raja-raja dahulu. Rasional peranan Majlis Raja-Raja dalam soal ini ialah perlembagaan hanya menekankan persoalan pentadbiran negara. Maka, dalam hal persoalan agama dibiarkan untuk dikendalikan oleh institusi beraja. Makalah ini akan melihat peranan institusi beraja dalam menjaga kedudukan Islam berdasarkan Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Institusi Raja-Raja Melayu, Islam, Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia, etnik

ABSTRACT: Monarchy was inherent in the social system of the Malay states since a number of centuries. According to the monarchy, the king has absolute power in every government and state administration, especially before British colonisation. When the Federation of Malaya gained independence in 1957, the institution of the monarchy is continued with some changes to suit the concept of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Institution of monarchy is also linked to the question of religion because they are religious leaders in their respective states and is responsible for keeping the religion of Islam as well as any amendments to be made against the religion of Islam must first gain the consent of the kings. The rationale for the role of the Conference of Rulers on this matter is that the constitution only emphasises on the nation’s administration. Thus, the institution of monarchy is left to attend to matters related to religion. This article will examine the role of the institution of monarchy in charge of Islam in accordance with the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Key words: Institution of Malay Rulers, Islam, the Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia, ethnic