Watershed moment for our Rulers

Last week I was in Ipoh for an event in conjunction with the enthronement ceremony of Perak’s new ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

I was asked to be a judge in an oratory competition for upper secondary school students, where the topics of choice were geared towards the relevance of a constitutional monarchy.

The titles the students had to choose from were “Constitutional Monarchy: Concept, Role and Challenges”; “Conference of Rulers: An Independent Entity in the Structure of the Government”; “The Royal Institution: The National Symbol of Sovereignty of a Nation State”; and “The Royal Institution: A Mechanism of Check and Balance to Enhance a Democratic Culture”.

It was an important topic for the next generation to ponder, especially when the role and importance of the Monarchy have been a matter of discourse, both publicly and privately.

I was made to understand that Sultan Nazrin had asked that activities to mark his enthronement also include those that have intellectual and academic flavours. And this topic for the oratory competition was also sanctioned by the Sultan, along with the inclusion of the pros and cons of a constitutional monarchy.

Hence it was interesting to watch these 17-year-olds take to the stage to espouse the merits of a constitutional monarchy – all with the Sultan seated five metres away.

But the fact they are secondary school children, mentored by their teachers and confined to the titles given to them, the conclusion was always going to be that the monarchy is still a very much needed entity.

And with the country in its current political and economic state, there is much truth to what these youngsters had to say that day.

Regardless of what one may feel about the royal institution or some of the individual rulers, one must admit that their Royal Highnesses are a necessary buffer – the last film of protection especially at a time when the Executive is weak, open discourse is not encouraged and dissent is not tolerated.

The Sultan of Perak during the enthronement and coronation ceremonies had decreed that public funds not be spent extravagantly on functions, dinners and decorations – where all activities and new infrastructure must be beneficial to the public and must last beyond the ceremonies.

Sultan Nazrin had articulated that it was not right to demonstrate extravagance especially when the people were undergoing belt-tightening measures – from an economy that could be better managed (last emphasis is mine).Contrast this with the show of wealth by some of our leaders and their wives who preach austerity to the masses but do not lead by example.

And whether one likes to admit it, if the Sultan bellows, things move. Take for instance Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim’s criticism of the imposition of government service tax (GST) on municipal services, which prompted the state government to absorb the tax.

The Ruler is now making the authorities and politicians work overtime with his disapproval of the Johor Real Property and Housing Board Bill which initially gave the ruler wide powers in deciding on real estate development in the state.

In a recent interview, the Sultan of Selangor revealed the delicate goings on behind closed palace doors to fix the impasse between the state Islamic authorities and the Christian community over the seizure of Bibles – where His Royal Highness had warned against extremism and stomping in the rights of minorities.

The 1993 amendments to the Federal Constitution which limited the powers of the rulers are well documented.  A campaign by the government then to gain the support of the people especially the Malays included highlighting the lavish lifestyles of some of the Sultans. Then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had demonstrated he was not a big fan of the monarchy from his early writings as an up and coming politician.

He had relegated the rulers’ role to that of mere ceremonial and for religious issues.

But as what we have seen of late, the role of the Monarchy has exceeded beyond ceremonial. The people have still high regard of the Sultans. Many if not all our Sultans have a broad perspective through their education and global exposure. And they are the only ones who can say their piece without fear or favour.

It is reassuring to learn that some of the rulers had voiced their concerns behind closed doors on some of the issues affecting the people and the broader issues in this country.

We have also witnessed bolder statements coming from many members of the various royal houses, where several of them have taken a more proactive role in dealing with issued like human rights, minority interests, bridging the ethnic and religious divide, among others.

Tunku Abidin Muhriz, the second son of the ruler of Negri Sembilan and founding president of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) is one name that comes to mind.

With a more oppressive regime, there hasn’t been a more crucial time than now for the people to appreciate that the existence of the monarchy gives us that one extra veil of protection.

It is also a watershed moment for the monarchy itself to step up and demonstrate its importance and underscoring its relevance as “tempat berteduh” the umbrella of the people.

- TMI