ID :
91349
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 14:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/91349
The shortlink copeid
INSTITUTION OF RULERS IMPORTANT AS POWER STABILISERS
SHAH ALAM (Malaysia), Nov 24 (Bernama) -- The sovereignty of the institution
of royal rulers in Malaysia should be preserved as it plays an important role as
a power stabiliser.
Historian Prof Emeritus Dr Khoo Kay Kim said considering that Malaysian
politics often showed instability, the public would most probably look up to
other quarters for power balancing.
He said this in his working paper titled, "The Sovereignty of the Rulers
and Their Role in A Multiracial Country" at a discourse on 'Sovereignty of
Rulers - A Heritage That Must Be Protected' officiated by the Ruler of the state
of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, here, Monday.
"The rulers need to be proactive, not to meddle and side with any party, but
to ensure that the three branches of the government -- judiciary, legislature
and executive -- are not only efficient but also do not interfere in each
other's affairs."
He said according to British thinking in the 19th century, a ruler was very
important for the community because "without a ruler, the people will just be a
mob".
"In the complex Malaysian political system, only the rulers are free from
having to identify themselves with any section of society, while times have
changed as the rulers are no longer seen as protectors of the Malays only.
"In a society where the members are often in conflict over certain matters,
only the rulers are above all these to ensure the society remains within the
boundary of civility."
Khoo said England was one country where the ruler was the embodiment of the
national identity and revered symbol of the monarchy and unity, but this was not
achieved within a short time.
Another speaker, lawyer Salehuddin Saidin, said the institution of rulers
was established as a check-and-balance for the country's leaders if their
actions did not meet the people's aspirations or were not in accordance with the
law.
"This institution should remain although there are those who feel that the
country already has many leaders who are chosen by the people."
Salehuddin said the political situation in Malaysia was rather unique as
there were three major races; the Malays, Chinese and Indians who fought for
their own communal rights provided under the law.
"If the republic system where the president is elected by the people is
practised in Malaysia, problems will arise if there are ethnocentic leaders who
incite feelings of dissatisfaction towards the other races.
"However, in a constititional monarchy system, our institution of rulers
will not collapse in the event of a conflict as accession of the rulers is
hereditary, unlike the president's position in a republic."
Prof Dr Ramlah Adam from local Universiti Teknologi MARA here also said that
the royal rulers could serve as power stabilisers as they were always neutral
unlike political leaders who had to uphold their own party's ideology and
struggles.
-- BERNAMA
of royal rulers in Malaysia should be preserved as it plays an important role as
a power stabiliser.
Historian Prof Emeritus Dr Khoo Kay Kim said considering that Malaysian
politics often showed instability, the public would most probably look up to
other quarters for power balancing.
He said this in his working paper titled, "The Sovereignty of the Rulers
and Their Role in A Multiracial Country" at a discourse on 'Sovereignty of
Rulers - A Heritage That Must Be Protected' officiated by the Ruler of the state
of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, here, Monday.
"The rulers need to be proactive, not to meddle and side with any party, but
to ensure that the three branches of the government -- judiciary, legislature
and executive -- are not only efficient but also do not interfere in each
other's affairs."
He said according to British thinking in the 19th century, a ruler was very
important for the community because "without a ruler, the people will just be a
mob".
"In the complex Malaysian political system, only the rulers are free from
having to identify themselves with any section of society, while times have
changed as the rulers are no longer seen as protectors of the Malays only.
"In a society where the members are often in conflict over certain matters,
only the rulers are above all these to ensure the society remains within the
boundary of civility."
Khoo said England was one country where the ruler was the embodiment of the
national identity and revered symbol of the monarchy and unity, but this was not
achieved within a short time.
Another speaker, lawyer Salehuddin Saidin, said the institution of rulers
was established as a check-and-balance for the country's leaders if their
actions did not meet the people's aspirations or were not in accordance with the
law.
"This institution should remain although there are those who feel that the
country already has many leaders who are chosen by the people."
Salehuddin said the political situation in Malaysia was rather unique as
there were three major races; the Malays, Chinese and Indians who fought for
their own communal rights provided under the law.
"If the republic system where the president is elected by the people is
practised in Malaysia, problems will arise if there are ethnocentic leaders who
incite feelings of dissatisfaction towards the other races.
"However, in a constititional monarchy system, our institution of rulers
will not collapse in the event of a conflict as accession of the rulers is
hereditary, unlike the president's position in a republic."
Prof Dr Ramlah Adam from local Universiti Teknologi MARA here also said that
the royal rulers could serve as power stabilisers as they were always neutral
unlike political leaders who had to uphold their own party's ideology and
struggles.
-- BERNAMA
