Been
a while right. I’ve already forgotten the fact that I even had a blog. So, I’m
not going to drool on it, but let’s get straight to the point shall we.
Alright, the question of, can we thrive without sultans and rajas, have been
going on for quite some times. Oddly enough, this question was posed by our so
called “Malay Defender” dictator-cum-prime minister, Dr. Mahathir. He
questioned the authority of the sultans in a scathing 95 points speech to
parliament on January 18th 1993, in which he pointed out the flaws
of the immunity of kings in the Malaysian constitution. He also compared the
immunity laws to that of other constitutional monarchs across the world, even
reaching as far back as the Governor General of India.
He
criticised our constitution and was backed by the papers, even praised by some,
eventhough that meant the end of any virtual role the king had in governing the
nation. In it, he also proposed that kings shall only receive immunity while on
official duties, making it on-par with almost every other monarch in the world.
He even went to as questioned the sultans integrity especially during the
forming of the Malayan Union when the sultans simply signed a paper,
effectively handing us all to the British, while they got hefty monthly
paycheques, and the people were the ones fighting against it, though he did say
that he did not want to abolish the monarchs.
He
even had time to comment on the hot topic of the day, which was the
implementation of the Hudud Law, which he argues that Malaysia still cannot
implement it because there are only 56% muslims in this nation, and we have to
consider the environment and everything to implement it. Which basically means,
he did not see Hudud as relevant at the time, eventhough this statement is
considered blasphemy in many circles of Islam, he has not yet retracted it, as
of time of publishing.
Overall,
he stressed the importance of law, the implementation of it on every walks of
life including the sultans, which at that time were quite renegade in their
actions. For me this was really good, keeping check on the sultans, who are, at
times quite rude and inconsiderate towards their subjects, eventhough their
paycheques came from us, the taxpayers. So, the amendments was, for me, timely,
well composed, and a big stepping point towards a Malaysia, free of the
shackles of monarchy, which for me, is very burdening to us, normal Malaysians.
Though I can’t really agree with his point about the implementation of Hudud,
but, anyhow, it’s still good. Till this day, this single bit, is the only thing
I thank that old man for, only this. Nothing else that he did is worthy of any
amount of gratitude. Thank you.
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