The Constitution usually sets out the basic rights of citizens
and defines the role of government and its component
branches.
To be competitive, it should not just define the rights of
citizens, but protect the rights against interference by government
in power.
It should define larger aspects of nation building and set up the
larger roles of the government and put up appropriate safeguard to
prevent abuse and motivate all citizens to participate in social
and cultural and all aspects of nationhood.
A forward-looking constitution will lead a to more competitive
nation building. This requires the spelling out of roles, duties
and responsibilities of government and creating the necessary
conditions for motivating and empowering social, cultural and moral
growth of society and promotion and nurturing of enterprises and
citizenship.
A more general constitution on the other hand may lead to conflicts
and disputes among component of government leading to complexities
and uncertainties and instability.
There should be a proper balance between the components and
providing for the necessary conditions supportive of development of
active citizenship.
While the government has the duty to establish law and order and
enforce them to attract investments and stable growth, it has the
larger roles to play to bring about economic competitiveness and
vibrancy with the participation of its people.
Any lack of definition of roles may lead to abuse and
over-controls, over-regulations and over-legalistic passing of laws
and enforcement resulting in autocracy and stifling of creativity
and enterprises of society.
Should the constitution serve the larger long-term interest of the
state or the people - to the greatest good for the greatest
number?
The answer is obvious isn't it? Government is elected to serve the
people to look after their interests and wellbeing through :
(1) administration,
(2) justice,
(3) maintaining democratic election processes
(4) implementing policies and decisions in clearly defined
objective work processes with accountability and responsibility
seen to be promoting citizens' social, cultural and economic
vibrancy and competitiveness.
Specifically the constitution would establish three branches of
government: (a) An effective executive, (b) Independent
legislature, (c ) An independent judiciary. Each of the three
branches of government should be supported by a non-aligned civil
service in the interest of all citizens.
When such a constitution is established, there will be
cooperations, coordination and efficiency and all the government
policies and decisions will then gain the fullest support and
participation of its citizens in nation building ?
The existing constitution is too general leaving the executive
branch too much discretionary power to pass laws and regulations to
help itself in avoiding accountability and curtail people's right
to speak up, and participate in governing policies, appointments of
government etc.
Read more about the current shortcomings e.g. "20 major policy
errors of governemnt" as posted to the feedback unit.
If the government wants to build a cosmopolitan and inclusive
society then it must go beyond pro-exectuive top-down
leadership-centric pretentious and hypocritic window dressing and
statistical presentations.
There is a need to recognise that any form of legalistic wrangling
of laws and regulations like the laws of election GRCs will be
counter-productive and abhorent to the long-term goal and interest
and will lead ultimately to instability.
There is obviously a need to balance between law and order and
empowering of citizens' collective talents, coordination, knowledge
applications and innovation in every field, the key to the people's
vibrancy and competitiveness.
