Kuala Lampur, June 1 -- A constitution is sui generis. The expression is Latin for "of its own kind" or "in a class by itself" or simply "unique".

In the words of Acting Lord President Raja Azlan Shah (as His Royal Highness then was), a constitution, being sui generis, calls for its own principles of interpretation, suitable to its character, but without necessarily accepting the ordinary rules and presumptions of statutory interpretation. (See His Royal Highness' judgment in Dato Menteri Othman Bin Baginda & Anor v Dato Ombi Syed Alwi Bin Syed Idrus [1981] 1 MLJ 29)

A living piece of legislation that it is, a constitution calls for respect not only to the language which has been used but also to the traditions and usages which have giv...