Latter day “Sun King”

• 7 February 2018
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In stripping PH leader Anwar Ibrahim of Selangor State honorifics the Sultan of that State has, once again, brought to the forefront the whole notion of royalty in Malaysia.

When the Constitution was being drafted the then rulers of Malaya accepted that the traditional Malay Rulers should retain their titles and some strictly defined privileges and powers; something which they had possessed only nominally during British colonial rule.

Fair enough in view of majority opinion in the Malay community concerning the status of their traditional rulers. These provisions, suitably altered, were carried forward when the Malaysia Constitution was being drafted and from which it was clear that the Rulers would, in future have limited powers in what was to become a democratically managed nation.

The sensible among the Rulers, realising that things had moved on from monarchical autocracy, and glad to be able to continue to play a part in the governance of the new State accepted the limits placed on their powers and carried out their prescribed roles correctly.

Unfortunately one of their number, the Sultan of Selangor, chose to arrogate to himself a role in the selection of a Chief Minister of the State for which there was, and is, no constitutional authority. The Chief Minister is selected by the majority party and appointment thereafter by the State Ruler is a polite formality not to be interfered with.

The Selangor Ruler seemingly failed to appreciate to constitutional position and caused a constitutional crisis as a result. It is to be hoped that this incident will serve as a lesson to all about the limits of Ruler authority and the need to observe them strictly if the present constitutional position is to continue in place.