Automatic Membership?

Since I have explained how I will approach this issue, lets begin the discussion!

After getting in touch with a few friends, I managed to get a copy of the PBT constitution (of course like LGE I cannot be sure that the constitution hasn’t changed!). Unfortunately, I am not a lawyer so I will be just using my own logic.

In the media and on the blogs, the most attention has been given to Article 5.1 of the PBT constitution. By now most of us should be familiar with it, but for the sake of completeness I’ll post it up anyway:

Keahlian Pertubuhan BUNGA TANJUNG hendaklah terdiri dari Ahli Biasa dan Ahli Bersekutu seperti berikut:-

a.     Ahli Biasa

i.       Isteri Ahli Dewan Undangan dan Parlimen bagi Negeri Pulau Pinang kecuali mereka dari parti pembangkang;

ii.    Isteri kepada YB Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang;

iii.    Isteri kepada YB Penasihat Undang-undang Negeri Pulau Pinang;

iv.     Isteri kepada YB Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Pulau Pinang;

v.    Isteri bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan dan Parlimen Negeri Pulau Pinang kecuali pembangkang;

– Article 5.1, Perlembagaan Bunga Tanjung

It is via this point that it has been asserted that his wife and other PR people’s representative’s wives are automatically members after winning the election on March 8th.

However, when looking at a constitution I’m sure we cannot just look at one article in isolation. There are many provisions that could affect one another. From what I have read of the PBT constitution, it is no different. Lets look at the following:

Tiap-tiap seorang yang ingin manjadi ahli hendaklah mengisi borang yang disediakan oleh Pertubuhan Bunga Tanjung dan menghantar borang tersebut kepada Setiausaha bersama dengan yuran. Jawatankuasa berkuasa menerima atau menolak permohonan menjadi ahli tanpa memberi apa-apa sebab.

– Article 5.3, Perlembagaan Bunga Tanjung

In this context, it seems that membership to PBT is not automatic even when a person’s husband becomes a people’s representative. The way I read it, what Article 5.1 lays down is the eligibility of membership, the “who can join the society” clause. But “joining as a member” is a two step process that is governed by Article 5.3 :-

1. A person would have to apply for membership, then
2. Her membership would have to be approved by the committee.

Does this mean that the membership of PR wives is not automatic? 

Why was this part of the constitution not revealed to all of us?

Next: Could we end up with NO MEMBERS in the society?