The King Speaks .. Trying To Read Between The Lines
Malaysiakini reports that HM the Yang Dipertuan Agung has disclaimed any support for last weekend’s march for electoral reform organised by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH). I am trying hard to read between the lines here but I don’t see much to hope for except perhaps for the fact that the statement was initially published by BERNAMA, the national news agency, for reasons that ought to be obvious.
The role of the constitutional monarchy in Malaysia is ambiguous at best. Even the traditional role where the monarch is supposed to provide stability, continuity and a national focus due to the permanent status of the office while elected governments come and go is tenuous considering that in Malaysia, it is the individual monarch that is rotated once every 5 years whilst the civilian administration have been dominated by a single political entity since 1955!
Despite this reality, the people appealed to the monarch seeking his intervention; or at least his arbitration; in a situation which arguably has run out of any other form of legal recourse. To have the palace issue a statement as the one above can only add to the desperation of the people and dash the hopes and aspirations of many. There is, of course, the argument that a constitutional monarch should be politically neutral. I agree with that wholeheartedly. I do, however, wonder whether political neutrality and objectivity is a luxury that our country can ill afford at the moment.
Daulat Tuanku.
TYKO
We have to depend on ourselves. No international pressure, no royal support will bring us to where we want to go. We have to do it ourself. No short cut. No quick-fix. People have to be educated. We have to create awareness in the heartland, in the kampung.
We have to bring the news not seen in the local media to our kampung folks. Let them be better informed and let them decide.
We have to do the dirty jobs ourself, FOLK. Talk to the people in kampung, those do not have access to the internet. It is a slow process but a sure process.
Challenge SPR for suspected cases of gerrymandering.
GOD will help those who help themselves.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:39 pmstcin
SUHAKAM has humiliated me since24-7-2000 when i was called to KL to attend its ever 1st historic INQUIRY !! I WAS TREATED AS A SILLY ‘GUINEA-PIG’ for the commissioners to try out how inquiry was conducted
November 16th, 2007 at 2:54 pmSagaladoola
No more Electoral Reform?
OK, people.. time to get on with our lives….
Anyway, it is better to attempt than not attempting at all.
Oh yeah, the rally may be in page 4 or 5, but this statement will be on the headlines I think….. as usual .. . Hahaha….
Regards,
November 16th, 2007 at 3:20 pmhttp://sagaladoola.blogspot.com
LOne
Dear Bob and All,
Remember “God help those who help themselves”.
The statement as issued by the HRH is reflective of the saying. So do we expect the HRH to lend a helping hand?
Handing over of the memo to HRH on 10th Nov is just symbolic. HRH is now made aware of all that is troubling us with regards to free and fair elections. Did we expect him to come out hammering the EC or the gomen? Certainly no. Now that he has acknowledged the realty of the rally and what it symbolises, it is up to us, the Rakyat, to get things done using Rakyat Power.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:13 pmanak perelih
“don’t involve in illegal activities” (election fraud?)..
November 16th, 2007 at 4:59 pm“build for a better malaysia” (better malaysian electoral laws/rules?)
lucia
well this news doesn’t surprise me nor sadden me. so what if the king does not support the rally. doesn’t matter. what matter is that the people came out in full force, in solidarity to march for a cause. the people did something… which will bring me to quote gandi:
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from you action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
November 16th, 2007 at 8:52 pm