AT THE end of this month, we will welcome our 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar will succeed his brother-in-law, Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, on January 31.
In the months leading to Sultan Ibrahim’s ascension, his royal highness made several remarks and decrees that caused interest as well as trepidation.
Among the widely reported ones were his views on the reporting line of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Petronas, which his royal highness said should come under the King to ensure independence from politicians and those with vested interests.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attempted to allay any worry of overreach by the monarchy saying that these were merely concerns of an incoming king, who is aware of the roles and parameters of a constitutional monarch.
It is evident that the Sultan and prime minister have formed a cordial relationship, with the monarch driving Anwar to the Senai Airport himself after holding an audience with the prime minister at the palace.
Sultan Ibrahim has also on several occasions asked that the unity government be given a chance to govern, saying that one year is too short a time to achieve its goals.
This can be articulated by the fact that the Madani government is a motley crew of strange bedfellows. Former political enemies are now working together – a coalition formed for mutual survival following a hung parliament.
But it is also a necessary alliance to keep at bay creeping radicalisation, intolerance and singularity advocated by the opposing side – values that are inconsistent with a multiracial, multi-faith nation.
It is understood that this Sultan – through emissaries but also directly – has advised, castigated and warned political leaders against any attempts to overthrow Anwar’s government before the 16th general election (GE16).
His royal highness does not fancy himself being put in a position of swearing in two to three prime ministers in his five-year term.
Sultan Abdullah had to swear in Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and then Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during the 14th parliamentary term after a loss of confidence, and then Anwar, following GE15 in November 2022.
However, despite this cautionary advice, it is apparent that certain quarters are impatient and are plotting for the fall of this government.
Talking about another attempt to overthrow an elected government through this “langkah” and that “langkah” does nothing except cause uncertainty and distress to the people and investors.
It may also cause the civil service to drop gears in implementing the present administration’s agenda in anticipation that they will need to go back to the starting blocks if another government takes over and throws the Madani manifesto into the Putrajaya Lake.
Sultan Ibrahim, however, is unlike some of his predecessors and is known to be a vocal and hands-on monarch.
He had even warned politicians against any attempts to topple the state government in a political coup, threatening to dissolve the state assembly if any crossovers were initiated to steal the people’s mandate.
Many politicians and civil servants have been summoned to the palace for a royal scolding on numerous matters including complaints of poor services at government departments.
His royal highness also did not mince his words when it came to the creeping-in of religious dogma that goes against the universal values of Islam, famously cutting ties with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
Hence, one should probably be reassured that a hands-on king, who has already decreed that this government should continue until a new mandate is sought in the next general election, will help ensure the political stability that the country gravely needs so the present administration can address the bread-and-butter issues of the rakyat effectively without any more distractions. – January 5, 2024
Terence Fernandez is group editor in chief of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop