Charm Offensive

• 31 March 2020
• 0 comments

It is interesting to see what appears as a possibly concerted effort in the local Press to burnish the image of the present Agong. Pictures show him, informally dressed, standing next to a group of women  outside the Istana Negara. If this photo opportunity was intended to show him in a good light what it does show is a complete disregard of the Covid epidemic. Surely we are not expected to believe in a royal immunity to the disease?

Of course there is good reason to try to plug the royal image at this crucial stage in the history if Malaysia. If only to distract public attention from his choice of a Prime Minister whom he KNEW, from his own interviews with ALL MLAs, to be far from their choice; while ignoring the claim of Anwar Ibrahim who had emerged a clear favourite in the royal investigation.

To date no explanation for this choice has been offered, leaving the public free to speculate. When an outsider wins a horse race of national importance there are aways queries. In racing they can be dope tested but what can be used to test a Prime Ministerial choice? The poisoned air can only be cleared by a full public explanation. The Constitution imposes responsibilities as well as position and honorifics and when these are not respected the public are entitled to think the worst.