Iraq considering constitutional changes

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia --Iraq is looking to ethnically diverse and harmonious Malaysia as a possible model for a new Iraqi constitution, an official was reported as saying Thursday.

Hummam Hammoudi, the head of a committee considering amendments to the Iraqi constitution, made the comments during a dinner hosted by the northern state of Penang for visiting Iraqi lawmakers and U.N. officials, according to the report by Malaysia's national news agency Bernama.

Neither Hammoudi nor Iraqi embassy officials could be immediately reached to confirm his comments.

Hammoudi's committee is studying how the constitution can be revised to foster peace and end sectarian strife.

Bernama quoted Hammoudi as saying that his committee found Malaysia to be a good model.

"Our trip to Malaysia is an eye-opener as to how Malaysia's multiracial population lived and worked together in unity," Bernama quoted Hammoudi as saying.

About 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are Malay Muslims. About 25 percent are Chinese and about 10 percent are Indians. All three have equal political, social and religious rights and live in harmony for the most part.

Malays, however, dominate the coalition government and enjoy a host of privileges under policies tacitly accepted by the Chinese and Indians, some of whom nevertheless complain about being treated as second-class citizens.

Hammoudi is a Shiite lawmaker and cleric on the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which makes up the largest party in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling coalition.

"Iraq is now moving towards an era of striving for freedom, democracy and good leadership after half a century of dictatorship. The presence of foreign troops has affected Iraq's sovereignty to a certain extent," he was quoted as saying.

Hammoudi's 29-member committee is dominated by 12 members from the Shiite bloc. The others are Kurds, Sunnis, other minorities and secularists.

The panel is expected to propose the amendments by mid-May. A national referendum will be held on the changes after they are approved by a majority vote in the 275-member legislature.