The Rise of The Statist Oligarchy

They do not teach English as in Old School. I ended a previous article by the adverb then. It means what it is supposed to mean- that after everything else fails, this is the last step.

Some people took it to mean that I have made a 360 degree turn. I have not.  As a teacher in primary school Mr. Chok,(Kuantan Sultan Abdullah School) used to say when teaching English- father, mother send you to school to learn English, you run away.

Beware of the wider implications. The PM and UMNO president is short-sighted. The next time it may involve the position of the PM itself- more than 2 names will be asked. Now, it’s the MB’s post, next is the PM’s post.

It means after all the suggestions that we follow the intent of the constitution and convention are not accepted, we have no choice but to let there be  state elections.

It means, state selections is a last resort after all else failed. The failure is simply due to our refusal to follow what are laid down by the constitution and convention.

Our attention then must be directed as to how did we find ourselves to be in this bind?

We are in our present state because we have advisors to HRH the Sultan- many of them clever and cleverer people who have advised that the Sultan has the power to determine who can become MB.

If we look at history, the purpose of the provision given to states where we have sultans was to ensure that the MB was a Malay. In the early part of the 20^th century, the British brought in Indians and Chinese and soon the population of these invited immigrants was larger than the indigenous Malays.

The Malays were alarmed and the British conceded and the inclusion of provisions to ensure Malays becomes MB. I have said that in an earlier article. So, to me, in the context of the purpose of the constitution of states and even the country, the freedom exercisable by the King is in determining and ensuring the MB is Malay and a Muslim.  

The gender is a non issue;why are we petty whether the MB can give sermons or not- how many MB’s now give sermons in mosques? Where it is not allowed in religion for a lady to go, the MB, if she were a lady can always assign a senior exco.

So why are people disputing why one name is submitted- the area of dispute permissible and allowable if that happens is, if the person proposed as MB or PM is not a Malay and Muslim.  The second purpose, of the provisions therein is, the Sultan is there to help and protect the Malays. He does this by ensuring the MB and PM is Malay. End of story.

By writing and speaking on this fact- how can it be regarded as humiliating the King? The King is a limited monarchy. We say it and affirm it. We cannot confer upon the King more power than is allowed by the constitution. Affirming this as being fact, means we are humiliating the King?

The king has power to determine who the MB is. Says the group of advisors which may include lawyers as well as people who are afraid the economic interests are in jeopardy.

The statement and proposition is only half true- it must be qualified that the power is circumscribed by the constitution and convention. The ruler acts on advice and on convention. How the power is utilised is the issue and source of the Selangor imbroglio. Plus PAS’s strange interpretation and reading of the Selangor politics.

The conduct of HRH the Sultan was supported by groups of people who want to see an absolute role of an absolute monarch. This is a disturbing trend in Malay thinking, which I hope will not gain traction among the larger Malay community. This group does not seem able to differentiate the meaning between the concept of constitutional and absolute monarchy. Absolute monarchy does not exist anymore.

While the Malays are respectful, revere and want the monarchy to be around, they certainly do not want the return of an absolute monarchy. Then, we might as well do way with democracy, allow the Sultans to appoint whomsoever they want to administer the country. Make sure those appointed to office answer to the Sultans personally.

The constitution protects the existence of our constitutional kings. A change in the constitution cannot be made at the whim and fancy of anyone without requiring a super majority of 2/3^rds of the votes in parliament. What more the removal of kings unless of course the Malay kings sign their own death warrants.

So let us stay clear from responding to imagined threats to the Malay monarchy expected from us by troublemakers who are just looking for an excuse to make trouble.  

The threat against the Malay monarchy exists in the imagination of these trouble makers. But make no mistake about it- their presence and existence is welcomed by the statist-minded UMNO leaders. They provide a useful reservoir of excuses to legitimatise further repressive action by the state on its political opponents.

We stand in direct opposition to this group.  

I need to make it clear here- I have been accused of being more critical than even the Chinese. I am not going to debate this opinion which is based on the assumption that, by nature the Chinese are anti-monarchy. While we can’t stop the Chinese from thinking whatever in the privacy of their homes and thoughts, I think on the whole, the Chinese are willing to live and let live.

I am talking here as a Malay who does not want to see a return of the absolute monarchy – a system of despotic government with all the attendant repression, tyranny and coercion and terror visited upon the hapless masses. These things are well narrated by the foremost Malay thinker of his time, Zaaba as early on as in 1927.

There is no single Malay , educated in the tradition of democracy who is aware of his inalienable rights as an individual, who values family values and does his bit to promote the well-being of society will want to support a government consisting of an oligarchy who rules as despots- benign or malignant.

Despotism will eventually lead to totalitarian rule and discretionary rule by the power hungry politicians. Thus the Home Minister who is not known for his cerebral prowess despite earning a doctoral degree can spew nonsensical statements about indefinable threats betraying his lust for total control. Totalitarian rule is a threat to our inalienable god given right as a human being, we are no slave to others, we promote family values and do our bit voluntary to further society’s well-being. The despots supported by their sycophantic drones want us to give them total power to do as they please.

All Malaysians must unite to prevent this from happening.  UMNO must stop using the name of the Malay race, and the imagined threats to its indefinable interests to justify repression.

Posted by sakmongkol AK47