Kuala Lampur, March 3 -- Sir Ivor Jennings, writing on the British monarchy, made the following observations in his book The British Constitution:

"The Queen has one, and only one, function of primary importance. It is to appoint a Prime Minister." (Cambridge University Press, 4th edition, 1961, at page 109)

That may be so in England, which has no written constitution, and where Parliament is supreme. It is definitely not so in Malaysia where there is a written constitution - the Federal Constitution - which is supreme.

Article 40(2) of the Federal Constitution19 provides as follows:

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may act in his discretion in the performance of the following functions, that it to say -

(a) the appointment of a prime minis...