Difficult to curb Malay rulers but I try, says Dr Mahathir

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 22 Apr 2019 10:25AM · 11 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says it is not easy to rein in the Malay rulers but he will try nonetheless. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, April 22, 2019.

IT will be difficult to solve the problem of interference from the Malay rulers in government affairs but Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it can be done if the government has two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“It is a difficult problem, I must say, but I try,” the prime minister said in an interview with The Star today.

He said he had done that (amending the constitution) to curtail the powers of the rulers in 1993 but the difference then was that the government had a two-thirds majority.

“We do not have a two-thirds majority (now). We need the support of the opposition in order to amend the laws. And the opposition is not always forthcoming,” he said.

Saying that he was not anti-royalty, Dr Mahathir said part of the problem for the continued interference from the palace in government affairs was due to administrators and politicians failing to say to the rulers, “this is wrong”.

“We find reluctance on the part of everyone to point out that this is wrong.

“For example, if the ruler takes land, confiscates land and all that, this has to go through the administrative process. The administrators dare not refuse. So, land has been taken away from the people, wrong things were done – things that were against the law.

“But the enforcers, the executive wing, will not do anything. They will just comply. Because of that, at the moment, there is a government that (is) almost not democratic.”

He also said there are cases of state executive papers having to be endorsed by the palace when it should not be allowed.

“It is the mentality of the people that this is sacrosanct and this is something above us and we cannot say no, even if wrong things are done.

“I have tried to correct before but they have gone backwards. For example, we set up a special court for the rulers. It was only used once (since 1993) but after that, it has never been used.

“Suppose, somebody has been punched, it does not got to the court, even though they make reports. People think they will get into trouble if they do not comply,” he added.

He attributed this to a combination of fear and respect.

“There is some inherent fear that something will happen to them if they carry out their work and they try to avoid it. For example, if somebody is hit by a member of the royalty, instead of taking it to courts, they try to cover up.”

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar driving Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the Johor airport after they had a meeting on January 10. The two leaders are most recently involved in a spat on the Rome Statute. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, April 22, 2019.

To overcome this situation, the prime minister said he is trying to solve the failure by following the federal constitution but admitted he is facing challenges in that effort too.

He referred to the way the Rome Statute issue was handled, especially by the Malay rulers, forcing the government to withdraw from ratifying the treaty.

“I have been blackened by other things such as (what was) done on the Rome Statute. To blacken my name so that I would not be influential, so that I can be overthrown. This is ongoing.

“We should actually take action over such things but then again, we have a problem of implementation because the agencies of the government are often reluctant to do anything. They look the other way.”

Dr Mahathir also touched on the royalty being involving in businesses when they have been told from the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman that they could not do business.

“There is some evidence (that) they (the royalty) allow their names to be used by private business people as a front.

“I think some have direct investment but we ourselves are in the wrong because we do not expose these things and take action.”

He also said that the rulers are assuming more power than what was given to them under the constitution, pointing out at the appointment of a new chief justice to replace Richard Malanjum.

“I always imagined that the King is the person who must approve all senior appointments but somehow or rather, there is the reference to the Conference of Rulers. Now, it is not just the King but it also has to go to the rulers.

“I don’t know what it means. The decision made cannot be altered unless there is a valid reason. We have made a decision (on the chief justice) and sent it to the King. At this moment, I still have not received any confirmation of the candidacy.” – April 22, 2019.

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Comments

  • That is the Tun's stand I support the most.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

  • Well said!! come to think of it if there is no two third in parliament to comply, peoples power is another avenue to ensure that wrongs are corrected. It is up to the PH Government ingenuity to see it done.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • TDM, the rakyat is behind you on this issue. The Royalty will always have our loyalty but they have to play their role in accordance with the laws. The Royalties are not above the law. That is clear. Their limited powers are clearly defined and they cannot "grab" more powers than that accorded by the law. They want to behave as if they have the final power to govern this country. That would make the constitution and Parliament subservient to them. Then they are the final authority. That's not in line with our principle of constitutional monarchy in a democracy.

    Posted 5 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • We wish the next PM is as strong as Tun. Hidup Tun!

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Rulers are happy to have a PM like najib

    Posted 5 years ago by Abdul Rashid Shaary · Reply

    • Not only the rulers - China, the world's kleptocratics and those in the long connected chain including auctioneers, property owners, casinos and lawyers also dearly love the ex-PM

      Posted 5 years ago by LJ WONG · Reply

  • How I wish and hope other Malay leaders will think like Tun M, and get rid of the feudalistic mindsets. The men in yellow are only taking care of their own interest and lining up their pockets at the expense of the Rakyat.

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Tun should approach GPS for the votes to gain 2/3?

    Posted 5 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • The Rulers are going against the Constitution if they delay the process of appointing the CJ. If they are culpable of delay then the judiciary and ultimately the rakyat has been unduly inconvenienced because justice cannot be delivered expeditiously. If in indeed the approval process involves only the King, referring it to the Council of Rulers may be construed as not in accordance with the Constitution. It is hoped the King and his brethren Rulers are aware of the implications of their actions for the good of the nation as well as for the rule of law.

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • The rakyat should stand firmly behind Tun Mahathir who is the only one who dares take this bull by the horns.

    Posted 5 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • I truly support Tun stand on matters Referred to the King, Rulers and familys. The Rulers and familys should
    earn their respect from the People if they want to be Truly Respected.

    Posted 5 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply