Will/How will Malaysia’s nine monarchs react to …

Will/How will Malaysia’s nine monarchs react to …

Malaya secured Independence (Merdeka) from the British on Aug 31, 1957, and the country was renamed Malaysia in 1963.

It remains today as one of the 43 countries in the world with monarchs.

Malaysia adopted a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy at federal and state levels. It was then made up of 13 states and two federal territories (now multiple federal territories).

Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a federation of the former British colonies of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, and Singapore (the island state quit Malaysia on Aug 9, 1965, to become an independent sovereign state).

The separation was due to serious political and economic differences between the ruling parties of Singapore and Malaysia, culminating in bloody and deadly racial riots in 1964.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) is a Head of State, Head of Islamic Religion and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces but is constitutionally bound to “act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or Prime Minister.

The Malay Sultans or Rulers of the nine states elect a Yang di-Pertuan Agong every five years but are traditionally installed by rotation.

However, as of September 2015, Malaysia’s Federal Constitution has been amended 57 times since Merdeka. The original discretionary powers of the monarchs have, thus, been affected in one way or another.

The Constitution can be amended through an amendment Act that must be supported by two-thirds of the Members of Parliament (MPs).

Malaysia-Today (an online media)’s RPK, currently widely touted as Prime Minister Najib Razak’s top blogger, posted a story based on this: Malaysiakini (an online news portal) said, “Respect for monarchy falls on how it responds to our crises.”

This follows media reports of Amanah (a PAS splinter Opposition political party) Youth’s submission of a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, urging the ruler to instruct Najib to resign over alleged global money laundering activities involving multiple billions of ringgit linked to 1Malaysia Development (1MDB).
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, founded 1MDB in 2009 and was in direct control of the so called national sovereign fund until it was placed under the country’s Finance Ministry following alleged money laundering activities being reported globally, with some 10 countries currently conducting investigations.

What is the meaning of this quote in RPK’s story: “Respect for monarchy falls on how it responds to our crises.”

Will/How will the nine Sultans or monarchs react?

Malaysians, who are well aware of the sensitivity of Malay Rulers, will surely monitor with bated breath for any development that may/could unfold.