Dr M is not anti-monarchy, says Kadir Jasin

Dr Mahathir Mohamad seen here with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V. Veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin says the prime minister has a good relationship with all the kings he served under and also the state rulers. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A senior PPBM leader denied that the prime minister is anti-monarchy, arguing that Dr Mahathir Mohamad had established a “cordial and productive working relationship” with almost all the kings he served.

A Kadir Jasin said that even when Mahathir’s ties with the late Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail of Johor were strained, they ended up being “good friends”.

In a blog post, he recalled that Mahathir – who had several tiffs with the royalty in the past – had amended the Federal Constitution over matters directly related to the sultans.

The first, he said, was in 1983 and the second, a decade later and noted that the rulers “put up a spirited challenge”.

“But armed with a strong mandate from the people, he managed to put through the amendments and patched up with Sultan Iskandar and other rulers,” Kadir, who is the special adviser to the prime minister on media and communications, wrote.

He was responding to comments on social media praising the prime minister “for his bravery against the rulers”.

The veteran newsman also refuted a report by Utusan Malaysia, which described him as being critical of the Malay rulers.

“What I am critical of is the ‘un-royal’ conduct of the monarchs and their close family members,” Kadir said, adding that like all Malaysians, he respected the Federal Constitution which acknowledges the king and the state rulers as constitutional monarchs.

Kadir went on to say that the king and state rulers should not destroy their dignity by competing with their subjects for contracts and concessions, annexing state lands and taking part in initial public offerings (IPOs).

Neither, he added, should they allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous businessmen.

Kadir said that he did not think Malaysians in general mind having so many constitutional monarchs around.

“They don’t even mind providing a reasonable sum of money to keep the king and sultans and their royal consorts happy and comfortable.

“In fact, I myself enjoy the pomp and pageantry associated with constitutional monarchs as often seen in the United Kingdom and Japan.” - FMT