Malaysia Should Be Turned Into A Republic

Tunku Sofiah Jewa

I cannot but agree with your views that the NST and the Star remain until today the vehicles of MCA and the position of royalties in our country. Since Tun Dr Mahathir took over the helm of our beloved nation, I have been  writing to various Malaysian dailies, especially the Star, NST and the Sun on my own take about royalties and the appointment of Tommy Thomas as Attorney General.

I wrote on how a determined nonagenarian brought down a cruel and ruthless regime by a bloodless coup-d’etat.

Like you, I also mentioned that a king who agreed to go away for a holiday during the polls and accepted one hundred million ringgit as pocket money for same is most unbecoming.

And the abuse by some rulers to use their so-claimed absolute power to award dato-ships wherein in fact they were selling even to gangsters such honours. Like you, I too have questioned whether we need royalties at all.

Both India and Indonesia did away with their Sultans and the Rajah and look how much the two countries are prospering today.

I am a royalty myself but am deeply saddened by the laissez faire attitude of the rulers during the Najib years as PM. I foresee the death knell of the monarchy in Malaysia – and it would not surprise me should that happen before Tun Dr Mahathir steps down as PM.

Pakatan Harapan has more than two-thirds majority in Parliament, and Sultan Azlan Shah himself when he was Lord President said in the landmark case of Public Prosecutor v Ooi Kee Saik & Ors (1971) 2MLJ that no law is immutable and can change in accordance with the wishes of the populace.

Tunku Dato’ Dr. Hajjah Sofia Jewa is a niece of Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra and a cousin of HRH Sultan of Kedah, is a practising advocate & solicitor and an accomplished writer.