KUALA LUMPUR: The media should play a role in raising people's awareness of the constitution, said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah after launching the Institute For Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas).

Ideas, founded by Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad, sourced its inspiration as a non-partisan think tank from the vision of Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj.

Working across the country's political spectrum, it is dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy challenges.

Asked if Ideas could represent the Malaysian voice without upsetting the government with its independent views, Tengku Razaleigh said: "I think it is a very good thing.

"In fact, I would like to suggest that apart from what Ideas is going to do, our television and newspapers should try to have more things regarding the constitution to make people more aware of their rights and responsibilities, and all the guarantees of the fundamental freedom of the salient features in the constitution so that they appreciate (the constitution) better.

"It is a good country and the constitution is there. People don't even understand what the constitution stands for."

Wan Saiful, who is the founding chief executive, said its activities may also upset the opposition as it would talk about principles rather than political parties.

"If you have read our published works, we have criticised the opposition," he said.

Ideas plans to conduct workshops for political parties across the country.

"We are planning to do nine workshops with state assemblymen and future state assemblymen on the nature and reality of the state-federal relationship according to the constitution," he said.

Ideas also plans to conduct a few researches including a long-term research on how to transform the school system.

"We are going to look into the models of how schools are being run in other countries such as in the United States, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and see how we can use the so-called market-based ideas to improve schools in Malaysia," said Wan Saiful.