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
Comments
Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Xavier Francis · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Da Hi · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Audrey Leong · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Audrey Leong · Reply
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
unproductive reactions .
Posted 5 years ago by Kukananthan Gnanamoorthy · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Quigon Bond · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Quigon Bond · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Ken destino · Reply
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