KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Social media is not the proper source for information on the Malaysian Constitution, says Assoc Prof Dr Shamrahayu Abd Aziz, Principal Fellow at the Centre for Research on Syariah, Law and Politics, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). 

Instead, she suggested that the public refer to legal experts and authentic reading materials to avoid confusion on the Federal Constitution. 

“I am concerned that many people now give their own views on the Federal Constitution and share them through the social websites or speak on it at the ceramah (while they are not legal experts).

“The public should not be afraid to read on their own, the Federal Constitution, and refer to the experts if they don’t understand. Don’t depend on information from the social media.”

She said this to reporters after presenting a working paper titled, ‘The History of the Islamic Religion in the Constitution’, at a workshop on ‘Islam in the Malaysian Constitution’, here, today.

The one-day workshop, held at IKIM, was attended by about 50 people comprising academicians and representatives of non-governmental organisations, National Civics Bureau and Community Development Department. 

It was aimed at educating the public on the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution and to discuss some current religious issues.

 Shamrahayu also advised the public not to be influenced by information on the country’s laws discussed at any political ceramah.  “If people want to discuss the Federal Constitution, do not use the political approach.

“The Malaysian Constitution is ours, so avoid accepting inaccurate information on it. Boycott those who try to politicise the Federal Constitution,” she said. — Bernama