IN his final address to parliament in February 2023, the reigning and outgoing former Agung expressed his hope that Anwar Ibrahim would be the last prime minister he had to collaborate with before returning to his previous role as the Sultan of Pahang. His remarks drew laughter in the House.

Sultan Abdullah had sworn in not one – but three prime ministers and worked with four during his statutory five-year reign.

This is remarkable, considering that more than half of his 15 predecessors never had the opportunity to swear in any prime minister, while quite a few were stuck with the same leader throughout their entire reign.

Returning to the parliamentary joke, who could forget the parade of lawmakers heading to the palace with their “Statutory Declarations” (SDs) in hand, reminiscent of naughty school kids with excuse letters en route to the headmaster’s office?

As an unnecessary reminder, the two consecutive individuals chosen by the Agung through his “SD in back pocket” manoeuvre, Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri, did not last long and are now both under investigation for corruption. This reflects not only on the pair but also on the one who selected them.

If palace advisors had sought broader counsel and explored alternative options, such as following the normal process of the deputy prime minister taking over, Malaysia could have been spared the subsequent unnecessary and destructive political turmoil.

The nation would then have had its first female leader, one with an IQ higher than Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri combined. Sultan Abdullah would have gone down in history as the one who swore in Malaysia’s first female prime minister.

For Malaysians hoping that the endless political intrigues and nightmarish leadership incompetence are finally over, hold on! The current Agung has two more weeks in office, and much mischief could still happen. Witness the much-hyped aborted so-called Dubai Move that would have paid government MPs millions to withdraw their support for Anwar.

Now that the Dubai Move has failed and exposed, Anwar’s enemies, Mahathir included, are desperate to distance themselves from that amateurish attempt.

Undoubtedly, they are likely busy devising other covert schemes. However, with the bank accounts of their clandestine operatives now frozen, they are severely handicapped but not eliminated.

Now, consider this: The Pardon Board is scheduled to meet next week. Former prime minister Najib Razak, currently in jail for his 1MDB corruption, has submitted a petition to the board. He is still facing trial for other related criminal and civil cases.

If the outgoing Agung were to pardon Najib, it would embolden the corrupt and overshadow the parliamentary circus of February 2023. Malaysia would then become the subject of global ridicule.

The incoming Agung – the Sultan Ibrahim of Johor – has made it clear that he abhors corrupt leaders and has threatened to pursue them even if they are nearing a hundred years old. This was a not-so-subtle reference to Mahathir, the nation’s longest-serving leader (1981 to 2003), who later made a spectacular comeback at the age of 90 (2018-2020).

Mahathir’s most visible and malignant legacy is his bequeathing Malaysia with five successors who were corrupt, incompetent, or both. Worse, he threw Malaysia into unnecessary political turmoil at a time when the country could least afford it, with the Covid-19 pandemic first strike in 2020.

Mahathir’s latest comeback attempt at the November 2022 election was met with utter humiliation. He lost his electoral deposits! Who says “Melayu mudah lupa?” (Malays forget easily).

It is the old man who does, for he is again contemplating a comeback through his many still gullible proxies.

This time it is not for political glory but personal salvation for the old man as he and his sons are finally feeling the heat of Anwar’s anti-corruption crusade. Mahathir is even more dangerous and cunning now. A cornered cobra, if not handled smartly, could wreak havoc.

The incoming Agung has fired a shot to preempt any attempt by the current Agung to pardon Najib. Malay sultans loath to criticise each other – at least in public. The Sultan of Johor, however, is not shy to express his views.

In that parliamentary speech of February 2023, Sultan Abdullah added that the political instability of the immediate preceding few years could have been avoided if politicians had been able to unite and focus on the people.

He deftly and conveniently glossed over his own pivotal role. The outgoing Agung would redeem himself if he were to deny Najib Razak a royal pardon. That would also be the right thing to do.
If the Agung were to do otherwise, he would undermine Anwar’s crusade against corruption and demoralise those who put their lives in danger in their fight against corruption in high places.

The greatest threat to the Anwar administration is not such juvenile attempts such as the so-called Dubai Move and other fantasies but Najib letting himself be exploited by the disgruntled corrupt.

What a terrible legacy that would be for Sultan Abdullah. – January 12, 2024.

IN his final address to parliament in February 2023, the reigning and outgoing former Agung expressed his hope that Anwar Ibrahim would be the last prime minister he had to collaborate with before returning to his previous role as the Sultan of Pahang. His remarks drew laughter in the House.

Sultan Abdullah had sworn in not one – but three prime ministers and worked with four during his statutory five-year reign.

This is remarkable, considering that more than half of his 15 predecessors never had the opportunity to swear in any prime minister, while quite a few were stuck with the same leader throughout their entire reign.

Returning to the parliamentary joke, who could forget the parade of lawmakers heading to the palace with their “Statutory Declarations” (SDs) in hand, reminiscent of naughty school kids with excuse letters en route to the headmaster’s office?

As an unnecessary reminder, the two consecutive individuals chosen by the Agung through his “SD in back pocket” manoeuvre, Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri, did not last long and are now both under investigation for corruption. This reflects not only on the pair but also on the one who selected them.

If palace advisors had sought broader counsel and explored alternative options, such as following the normal process of the deputy prime minister taking over, Malaysia could have been spared the subsequent unnecessary and destructive political turmoil.

The nation would then have had its first female leader, one with an IQ higher than Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri combined. Sultan Abdullah would have gone down in history as the one who swore in Malaysia’s first female prime minister.

For Malaysians hoping that the endless political intrigues and nightmarish leadership incompetence are finally over, hold on! The current Agung has two more weeks in office, and much mischief could still happen. Witness the much-hyped aborted so-called Dubai Move that would have paid government MPs millions to withdraw their support for Anwar.

Now that the Dubai Move has failed and exposed, Anwar’s enemies, Mahathir included, are desperate to distance themselves from that amateurish attempt.

Undoubtedly, they are likely busy devising other covert schemes. However, with the bank accounts of their clandestine operatives now frozen, they are severely handicapped but not eliminated.

Now, consider this: The Pardon Board is scheduled to meet next week. Former prime minister Najib Razak, currently in jail for his 1MDB corruption, has submitted a petition to the board. He is still facing trial for other related criminal and civil cases.

If the outgoing Agung were to pardon Najib, it would embolden the corrupt and overshadow the parliamentary circus of February 2023. Malaysia would then become the subject of global ridicule.

The incoming Agung – the Sultan Ibrahim of Johor – has made it clear that he abhors corrupt leaders and has threatened to pursue them even if they are nearing a hundred years old. This was a not-so-subtle reference to Mahathir, the nation’s longest-serving leader (1981 to 2003), who later made a spectacular comeback at the age of 90 (2018-2020).

Mahathir’s most visible and malignant legacy is his bequeathing Malaysia with five successors who were corrupt, incompetent, or both. Worse, he threw Malaysia into unnecessary political turmoil at a time when the country could least afford it, with the Covid-19 pandemic first strike in 2020.

Mahathir’s latest comeback attempt at the November 2022 election was met with utter humiliation. He lost his electoral deposits! Who says “Melayu mudah lupa?” (Malays forget easily).

It is the old man who does, for he is again contemplating a comeback through his many still gullible proxies.

This time it is not for political glory but personal salvation for the old man as he and his sons are finally feeling the heat of Anwar’s anti-corruption crusade. Mahathir is even more dangerous and cunning now. A cornered cobra, if not handled smartly, could wreak havoc.

The incoming Agung has fired a shot to preempt any attempt by the current Agung to pardon Najib. Malay sultans loath to criticise each other – at least in public. The Sultan of Johor, however, is not shy to express his views.

In that parliamentary speech of February 2023, Sultan Abdullah added that the political instability of the immediate preceding few years could have been avoided if politicians had been able to unite and focus on the people.

He deftly and conveniently glossed over his own pivotal role. The outgoing Agung would redeem himself if he were to deny Najib Razak a royal pardon. That would also be the right thing to do.
If the Agung were to do otherwise, he would undermine Anwar’s crusade against corruption and demoralise those who put their lives in danger in their fight against corruption in high places.

The greatest threat to the Anwar administration is not such juvenile attempts such as the so-called Dubai Move and other fantasies but Najib letting himself be exploited by the disgruntled corrupt.

What a terrible legacy that would be for Sultan Abdullah. – January 11, 2024.

* M. Bakri Musa reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.