In defence of monarchy...minus the politics

FEB 10, 2009 — The political crisis in Perak which led to the dismantling of the Pakatan government and the ushering in of the new Menteri Besar from BN has thrown the nation into serious debate about the role and relevance of the monarchy.
Many are perplexed at the incredible speed at which the King of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah came to a decision and concluded that previous Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin does not have the confidence of the majority of the assemblymen.
This is because the question of the validity of the 'resignation letters' by the three former Pakatan assemblymen and whether they can legally hold on to their seats remains in the air and can only be decided by the courts of law — not by the monarchy nor by the Election Commission.
Hence, Sultan Azlan's act of appointing Datuk Dr Zambry Kadir as the new Menteri Besar of Perak has opened up the debate on the extent of the role of the monarchy in the affairs of the state.
After the 2008 general election, we saw an evidence of the monarchy taking a more active role in the affairs of the country.
The delay in the appointment of the Menteris Besar of Perak and Selangor is due to the fact that the monarchy wants an assurance that the state governments will be one that is stable and able to command the majority of the elected representatives of each of the state.
This was also due to the fact that the opposition parties entered the general election as individual parties as the Pakatan Rakyat coalition was only formed much later.
In the case of the delay in the appointment of Menteris Besar of Perlis and Terengganu, the choice of the BN as Menteri Besar of the states did not gain the blessings of the Rulers of both states.
In this case, the Rulers of Perlis and Terengganu have shown their hands and exerted their limited and very much ceremonial powers in determining political outcomes of both states.
Umno's national leadership and the states of Terengganu and Perlis were both thrown at the deep end with the refusal of the Rulers to accept their MB candidates, and the state monarchs' throwing in their own preferred—throwing the party into turmoil.
The monarchy was revived with renewed strength following its humiliation at the hands of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who pushed for the constitutional amendments to reduce the power of the monarchy.
However, the incidence in Perak rightly or wrongly has blemished the institution and viewed with lack of respect and devoid of decorum.
Most viewed the monarchy of Perak as the most enlightened, most progressive and most liberated among the nine royal households in the Malay states.
Hence, some take cognisance to the fact that Sultan Azlan — who was also the former Lord President — would have decided for the benefit and the good of all Perakians.
However, it must be said that most of those disenchanted with the decision that led to the appointment of Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is mainly due to their prejudice and to a certain extent their hatred towards anything UMNO or BN.
Had Sultan Azlan accepted Nizar's pleading and agreed to dissolve the state assembly, he would be called the saviour of democracy and the beacon of hope by these same people who are currently denigrating him.
The Perak royal household which has long been held in high regards due to their academic and intellect prowess as well as their modern, liberal and progressive outlook in the public sphere has now been targeted for public ridicule by the same group of people.
The separation of partisan politics and the monarchy is needed now more than ever.
The monarchy has long been under the power of and muzzled by the political powers so much so that it has never been able to exercise its role as the guardian of the people.
The renewed strength and vigour of the monarchy after the 2008 general election has once again being pulled into the midst of a political altercation both by BN and Pakatan.
The institution needs to be seen as being free of partisan politics in order for it to fulfill its constitutional role as the guardian of the people and every decision that it makes must be seen as fair and impartial without any political power play at hand.
The role of the institution has to be redefined and accorded its rightful place according to the provisions of the constitution.
Constitutional monarchy is our system and the monarchy as an institution and defenders of the people is very much relevant in our society.
As nothing is absolute, the faith and hope that we place with the monarchy is dependent upon the institution serving its subjects with justice and fairness.
"Ampun Tuanku, sembah patik harap diampun"

- published in The Malaysian Insider : Feb 10, 2009