The royals and some lessons from the A-G episode

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 5 years ago · Published on 5 Jun 2018 4:35PM · 15 Comments

THE monarchy has survived for several hundred years by choosing their battles carefully.

Taking on a popular prime minister who came into office with a powerful mandate to reform decrepit Malaysia didn’t seem sensible.

Going head-on with a prime minister who had the Federal Constitution on his side and who always seems to be the last man standing after political battles just didn’t seem prudent.

So, early this morning, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong announced in a statement that he had consented to Tommy Thomas becoming the new attorney-general (A-G).

The Malaysian Insight understands that PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim played a pivotal role last night in convincing the King that the legal and prudent thing to do was to end the standoff with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The King had reservations about a non-Malay A-G looking after Malay interests. Anwar assuaged those concerns.

But even if the King was unmoved by Anwar’s cogent arguments, he would have to face his brother rulers who have been quick to sense a change in the mood of Malaysians since GE14.

Perhaps, one day in future when the euphoria of the polls has died down and Dr Mahathir no longer has a cache of goodwill, confronting the PM on a specific issue may seem attractive.

Not now.

And definitely not on an issue that has not even caught fire with the extreme fringe groups. Sure, there have been some online postings, online petitions against Thomas, ‎but by and large, the response from the Malay ground has been muted. There have been no protest marches, etc.

Dare we dream that this tepid response is another sign of a country re-born or is it just a manifestation of Umno and the right being in disarray following the defeat of Barisan Nasional in GE14?

‎In the final analysis, this was a battle the Malay Rulers could not have won.

Not against a PM with the law on his side and popular sentiment in his corner.

‎So what’s next?

The standoff over the appointment of the new A-G was the second time in less than a month that Dr Mahathir has been kept waiting by the King.

He had to wait until 9.30pm on May 10th to be sworn-in and that too after backroom drama and shenanigans.

Dr Mahathir is in a hurry to reform and revive Malaysia. He is not going to be frustrated or allow the legal powers of his position to be called into question every few months.

Not going to happen.

For the royalty, this means appreciating that there is a new man in Putrajaya.

The royals played an out-sized role during the Najib Razak years because a weak and scandal-tainted PM ‎ceded space and authority to them during his days in office.

Mahathir 2.0 has too many things on his plate to worry about the Malay Rulers. He has a short runway to complete what is proving to be a gargantuan task of cleaning up Malaysia and finding new streams of economic reforms that bring prosperity to the masses.

The royals need not fear Dr Mahathir.

They just must remember not to get in his way when he is exercising powers assigned to the PM by the Federal Constitution. – June 5, 2018

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Comments

  • Confucius words of wisdom - you will get burnt if you playing with candle

    Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply

  • Firstly why, in this days and age, our "Royals" would "have reservations about a non-Malay AG looking after Malay interest".. Seriously, even if its not only a two year contract only, what could a non-Malay AG with a full plate even "not looking after Malay interest"?? Frankly, critical thinking would say our "Royals", proven during the 1MDB debacle", fails test of their relevancy..

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

    • Well said...The most pertinent test on the role of the royals in protecting the rakyat was when the 1MDB scandal was laid bare for all to see on news around the world. I didn't read any firm and resolute response from the royals on that matter and at the same time, they continue to exhibit partisanship by criticizing Tun Mahathir in the run up to GE14 (the Sultan of Selangor said that he will burn down the country etc...)..

      Posted 5 years ago by Xavier Francis · Reply

  • DON'T MESS AROUND WITH ME. YOU UNDERSTAND!?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • The writing is on the wall?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Hopefully this episode is a signal to all Malaysians that they can achieve greatness within their own country and help in its development ...... and need NOT go elsewhere to pursue their dreams ....

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • A good analysis and this is only possible under the new gomen otherwise The Malaysian Insight will kena the Sedition Act for bringing the Rulers' reputation into question. However, the contention that there has been no major Malay protests against T Thomas' appointment is because Umno and the extreme right are in disarray is an insult to the Malays. Not all of us are as bodoh as Jamal the gangster. Gua orang Melayu pun tahu what is right or wrong. The new details and revelations under the PH gomen showed MO1 has betrayed our trust and big time.

    Posted 5 years ago by Da Hi · Reply

  • We have learnt from all these previous episodes over the years that we can't rely on the sultans to stand up or speak up for the rakyat. We have to get rid of all possible expectation on this.

    Posted 5 years ago by Audrey Leong · Reply

  • We have learnt from all these previous episodes over the years that we can't rely on the sultans to stand up or speak up for the rakyat. We have to get rid of all possible expectation on this.

    Posted 5 years ago by Audrey Leong · Reply

  • Institutions in any national system will vie for power, pushing and rubbing against each other. This is how checks and balances are imagined. Power would then ebb and flow, rise and fall throughout time. The writer alluded to this on Najib being a weak PM against the royals, despite its centralisation of power.

    Right now the balance has been tipped in one way, but as in history, it can tip to the other end as well. The constitution currently guarantees a role for the monarchs, even if it will be diminished and small at points in time.

    The wily politician should spend their political capital wisely and timely.

    Posted 5 years ago by Melvin Cheah · Reply

  • Beneficial reporting should promote positivity on challenging issues and build on the successful outcomes and not regress into instigating
    unproductive reactions .

    Posted 5 years ago by Kukananthan Gnanamoorthy · Reply

  • I recall on of Datuk Lat's cartoon which captured the moment when Dr M sought constitutional amendments to limit the privileges of the rulers. Someone who seemed like the KSN was standing next to a seated PM, looking at a chart, and next to him Dr M's gardener clearing his throat and the KSN said Datuk, your gardener has a view on the current issue. The chart shows a tree where the root represents the rakyat, the tree trunk the government, and the top of the heap of leaves the crown. I think that is very apt analogy in a constitutional monarchy like ours.

    Posted 5 years ago by Quigon Bond · Reply

  • I recall on of Datuk Lat's cartoon which captured the moment when Dr M sought constitutional amendments to limit the privileges of the rulers. Someone who seemed like the KSN was standing next to a seated PM, looking at a chart, and next to him Dr M's gardener clearing his throat and the KSN said Datuk, your gardener has a view on the current issue. The chart shows a tree where the root represents the rakyat, the tree trunk the government, and the top of the heap of leaves the crown. I think that is very apt analogy in a constitutional monarchy like ours.

    Posted 5 years ago by Quigon Bond · Reply

  • The Constitution is supreme. Tun goes by the the Constitution and others, irrespective who they are, have to follow. Never underrate this old man of 93, His bite is far more dangerous than the most venomous snake on earth. Hope everyone is aware of this.

    Posted 5 years ago by Ken destino · Reply

  • Yes, the Constitution says it all. Yet, we should have gone beyond it, in the case of the appointment of Thomas as the AG.
    Couldn't the Agong have been given choices, rather than have just one, forced upon him? What about Tan Sri Zainun Ali, who has an impeccable record as a Judge, compared to Thomas, who never sat as a judge before, brilliant as he may be as a lawyer.
    And we must not forget PH's promise to hold the highest regard to the views and wisdom of the Malay rulers (Promise #11). I'm sure the Agong would have asked for more names, but PM stuck with Thomas only. Was the "highest regard" accorded to the Agong" then, assuming this happened?
    Then, there's the Malay culture. As much as many think of nothing of the Malay rulers, many also think otherwise, rightly or wrongly. Is it so disrespectful to consider people like Tan Sri Zainun Ali as a choice, irrespective of the Agong's selection? It's the AG, not any Tom, Dick and Harry character!
    And again, it must be said that PH had broken another promise i. e. to select an AG from among its MPs to be the AG (Promise #15), when Thomas isn't one.

    All in all, in respect of the appointment of the AG, the PM cocked it up. He is, as if, going into PM2.0, continuing his vendetta against the Rulers which begun during his PM1.0.
    May God help us all.

    Posted 5 years ago by Nasir Ali · Reply