Feudalism rules

But if you want to retain the Monarchy and continue with Malaysia’s system of Constitutional Monarchy then learn how to work with the Rulers. Talk to them. Dialogue with them. Learn how to get their blessing before you embark on anything. Don’t act first and make announcements before you get the blessing of the Rulers.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Penang to go ahead with mosque polls

(Bernama) - The Penang government will not budge from its decision to carry out the election of mosque officials as it is accordance with the laws, said its Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

He said the proposed election adhered to Section 104(a)(b) of the State of Penang Enactment 2004 and 4(1) Congregation Committee and Mosque Officials Requirements (Penang).

"The new procedure introduced by the Penang Islamic Religious Council is an improvement of existing regulatory procedures adopted by the previous state government," he told reporters Monday.

Commenting on calls for the state government to get the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before holding the mosque polls, Abdul Malik, said the new procedure accorded congregators the right to nominate candidates through mosque committees to the council before getting the consent of the king.

Abdul Malik said the mosque congregation committees would decide whether the congregators were eligible to vote and the state government would set up the congregators' database after the election.

After nomination was closed last Tuesday, 193 out of 200 mosques had sent the nomination lists, he said, adding that this showed the proposed election had received an overwhelming response from congregators.

Meanwhile, Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said the state Umno had sent an appeal letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong through Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, to oppose the move.

"I hope the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the head of Islam will prevent the mosque polls from taking place as it could divide the Muslims," said Zainal.

*************************************

King orders halt to Penang mosque polls

(The Malaysian Insider) - Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has ordered Penang to call off its controversial mosque elections, the state government said today.

Penang religious affairs, domestic trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Kassim said the decision was relayed to him by Penang Islamic Council (MAIPP) head Ellias Zakaria earlier today.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has ordered the state mosque elections to be postponed,” Abdul Malik said in a statement.

The mosque elections were supposed to be held this weekend.

Abdul Malik said an official statement would be made after a meeting with the MAIPP.

Penang announced earlier this month that the selection of mosque committees in the state would be made through elections this year, in place of the previous method.

Malay rights groups like Perkasa has opposed the move, saying it would only divide the Muslim community in the state.

*************************************

Itulah, jangan cakap besar. Kan dah kena tarik balek kenyataan awal?

When the Penang State Government, or more accurately EXCO Member Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, made his announcement earlier this week, I was quite amused. I said to myself: let us watch what happens. I bet he will be made to eat his words and would have to ‘tarik balek’ what he initially announced.

We may think that Malaysia is a Constitutional Monarchy. We may think that the Agong acts on the advise of the Prime Minister and the State Rulers on the advice of the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister). The truth is, the State Rulers and Agong do have certain powers that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or even Umno cannot take away from them.

Okay, you may say that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is using the Agong. You may say that the Agong is just doing what Umno wants him to do. You may say that this is not really what the Agong wants but what Umno wants. Well, in that case, if this is Umno talking and not the Agong talking, then defy His Majesty. Refuse to comply with what the Agong wants and just go ahead with the mosque elections.

The bottom line is, the opposition should stop cakap besar. Don’t think that all this sabre-rattling can frighten the Monarchy. The opposition needs to learn how to engage the Monarchy instead of trying to threaten it.

Take Selangor as an example. I told some of the DAP Selangor leaders that they should stop acting like ‘Communists’ by demonstrating anti-Monarchy tendencies. I even introduced them to some members of the Selangor Royal Family and arranged a few dinners so that they could develop some fellowship.

This anti-songkok thing is stupid, I told them. If the dress code when entering the palace is to use a songkok then what is so wrong in using it? A songkok has nothing to do with Islam. Christians in Indonesia also use songkoks, as do some Hindus in India (which was where the songkok came from in the first place).

DAP must learn to accommodate the palace. They must not be too antagonistic towards the palace. If the palace offers DAP leaders awards (pingat and gelaran) or even datukships just accept them. Don’t decline them because you are opposed to symbols of the Monarchy. That would be like telling the Rulers to go to hell. And that is not how you develop a good relationship with the Rulers.

I hope this Penang mosque election fiasco has taught the opposition a lesson. If you wish to defy the Agong by going ahead with the Penang mosque elections then go ahead. No problem. You can even declare that if Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government the Monarchy will be abolished and Malaysia will be turned into a Republic.

But if you want to retain the Monarchy and continue with Malaysia’s system of Constitutional Monarchy then learn how to work with the Rulers. Talk to them. Dialogue with them. Learn how to get their blessing before you embark on anything. Don’t act first and make announcements before you get the blessing of the Rulers.

This piece is not about me being pro-royalty. Yes, I know, many are going to say I am talking this way because I am also a member of the royal family. But it is not that at all. It is about what I wrote earlier with regards to politics being about perception.

The perception being created is that the opposition has no respect for the Monarchy and is defying the Rulers. The perception being created is that the opposition is at odds and is in conflict with the Rulers. Considering that the majority of the voters are Malays and the majority of the seats are Malay seats and without Malay support the opposition can’t form the next federal government, this is a perception that does not help the opposition cause.

That is the bottom line. That is the message I am trying to send to the opposition.

Don’t give Umno ammunition to use against the opposition. Don’t allow Umno to swing the Malays on the basis that the opposition is anti-Monarchy and pro-Republic. Don’t allow Umno to capitalise on this perception.

In Perak, the Malays already think that the opposition is anti-Sultan. And that may hurt the opposition in the next general election.