Raja Zarith: ‘It is a mistake to think the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can influence how the government is run’

Raja Zarith: ‘It is a mistake to think the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can influence how the government is run’

Malaysians are just hours away from knowing who among the nine Malay rulers will be the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King).

And the Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah said it is a mistake to think the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can influence how the government is run.

No News Is Bad News is spot on again in its news commentary and analysis. (Read these for context: http://victorlim2016.blogspot.my/2016/10/king-and-malay-rulers-unlikely-to.html and http://victorlim2016.blogspot.my/2016/10/all-eyes-on-oct-11-conference-of-rulers_9.html)

Read what Raja Zarith said:

"AHEAD OF ELECTION OF NEW AGONG, JOHOR’S QUEEN DROPS A HINT: IF ELECTED, MY HUSBAND WON’T INTERFERE IN RUNNING OF FEDERAL GOVT

Politics | October 13, 2016 by | 0 Comments


Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah said it is a mistake to think the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong can influence how the government is run.

This is ahead of the election of the next Agong as Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah’s term draws to an end.



“There is much speculation about which Sultan will become our next Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Many think, mistakenly, that the Agong wields power. This, alas, is not true.

“The Agong, like all constitutional monarchs, such as Queen Elizabeth II, carries out official duties as head of state but has no say in how the country is run,” she said in a Facebook posting.

Raja Zarith, who is the consort of Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, said like in the United Kingdom, power lies with the prime minister.

“In the United Kingdom, it is not the queen but her prime minister and the government who have executive power and make the decisions regarding the budget, laws, regulations, foreign policies and other matters and issues.

“It is the same in Malaysia,” she said.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claiming that Najib Abdul Razak had blocked all democratic means to remove him amid the 1MDB scandal, had lobbied the current Agong to intervene.

However, Mahathir, after an audience with the Agong, said that the attempt had failed.

Najib had denied any wrongdoing or taking public funds for personal gain.

The appointment of the new Agong is being closely watched on whether the monarch would take a more vocal stance against the government.

The Conference of Rulers, which would end its three-day session tomorrow, is expected to decide on the next monarch.

According to the order of succession, Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya is to be the next Agong.

Following him is the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, who last year urged the people to support the prime minister’s leadership.

Urging the people not to criticise the prime minister without knowing the real reasons, the ruler said: “Najib is a hardworking leader and I am very proud of him. Let us all pray that he remains in the leadership position.”
– M’kini"