July 13, 2012
Book Review: Ampun Tuanku by Zaid Ibrahim
by Azmi Sharom (07-12-12) @www.thestar.com.my
“As anachronistic as the idea of a monarchy in a democratic country may be, Zaid Ibrahim argues that the Malay monarchs do have a role to play in Malaysia. And there lies the problem: there seems to be two different interpretations of the role of the Malay Rulers.
Some of them see themselves as something close to an absolute monarch (Zaid cites the Sultan of Perak’s refusal to grant the then Chief Minister of Perak, Nizar Jamaluddin to dissolve the State Assembly in 2008 and instead asked Nizar to step down) while another interpretation and a more popular one because you know, it’s in the law books, is that the Malay royals are bound by the Constitution on what they can or cannot do.
The Malay Rulers may have special privileges and rights that are not enjoyed by the rest of the nation but they must still live within those rights. It is when they are seen to be overstepping those rights that people start grumbling”.–ZI Publications
ZAID Ibrahim’s book Ampun Tuanku is a challenge. Not in the sense that it is a difficult read. On the contrary, it is a very easy book to go through because Zaid writes in a conversational style.
Perhaps a little too conversational as sometimes he sounds like an old dude repeating himself.But that little gripe aside, considering the complexity of the topic, this is in no way a “heavy” work and is surprisingly accessible.
No, this latest book from Zaid is a challenge on two fronts. Firstly, it challenges many preconceptions as to the role of the monarchy in Malaysia. This is an intellectual challenge and it is personal to the reader.
The second challenge is to the nation as a whole.Dealing as it does with the touchy subject of Malaysia’s royalty and their role in a constitutional government, it would be interesting to see whether there is sufficient maturity in our populace to take the book as what it is, a thoughtful, legally argued and respectful analysis of one of the oddest (some would say unique) institutions in the world.
In the light of how this country seems to be so anti-intellectual,
where decisions are made by policy makers founded on base instinctual responses as opposed to intellectual rigour, it would be interesting to see if Ampun Tuanku will evoke the Neanderthal reaction we have come to expect in Malaysia when people are faced with ideas they disagree with.
That, however, is a problem for another day. The purpose of this article is to examine some of the arguments made by Zaid. It ought to be pointed out here that the book is at pains to maintain a respect for the institution of the monarchy.
It is critical at times but it is all done strictly within the confines of the idea that we live in a constitutional monarchy and there is never any hint that this should change.
On a general level, Zaid explores the legal limits of the monarchy as well as the leadership role that it can play in a society that is multi-ethnic and multi-religious.
In this way, although the book can be critical, it does so in a constructive manner with an underlying theme that suggests the monarchy has a role to play in Malaysian society and with greater thought and wisdom, this role can be a positive one.
For me, the most interesting issue that he raises is the discretionary powers of the Sultan or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. A brief perusal of the Federal Constitution will reveal that there are actually very few situations where the royals have any real power.
Almost all of their decisions are to be made under advice of the Government.“Under advice” in the context of our Constitution means that they must follow what the Government tells them to do.
One of the few seemingly absolute discretions that they appear to have is the appointment of the Prime Minister (at Federal level) and the Mentri Besar (at the state level).
I have always thought this power was pretty clear and the only limitation is that the King or the Sultan makes his choice based on his perception as to which individual will have the confidence of the House.
Zaid goes further than this and he contends that the decision made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Sultan cannot be based solely on his prerogative and his idea as to who will hold the confidence of the House, but must be based on what the members of the House themselves say.
In other words, if one group has the clear majority and they have selected a leader among themselves, then the ruler has no choice but to pick that individual to be either the Prime Minister or the MB.
Zaid argues that the only time when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Sultan can
use his own judgment is when there is a situation of a hung Parliament or state legislature. Anything else would make a mockery of the democratic system which we uphold.
Like I said, he challenges perceptions for his view is subtly different from the one I have held for many years, and I must admit that there is coherence to his argument.
He does this throughout the book and it must be said that it is timely.Our current political situation is different from anything we have faced before.
The upcoming elections may see a Parliament and the various state legislatures looking like something we are not used to, with majorities being razor thin.
It is even more important, therefore, that everyone, royal and commoner alike, understands thoroughly the powers and the limitations of the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Sultan as their role then becomes crucial to the democratic nature and future of the nation.
Politics aside, Zaid is a good writer and a clear thinker. This is a timely book considering what happened in Johor. Those concerned in that state ought to read it from cover to cover and understand their role in society. They must clearly understand that Rulers whether they are titular or elected to public office are expected to be upright, just and exemplary. Respect is earned and can be easily be lost. Don’t take the rakyat for granted. Feudalism is dead. I personally expect my ruler to have moral authority. –Din Merican
If the limits to the power of the Sultan is written in the law books, in the event that he went past his limits, who’s supposed to inform him that? The government? I am not familiar with what’s written about the power of the Sultan. Is it clearly written since they can just go about and exert their power like absolute monarchs? Are they really exempted from being criticized?
__________
They are rulers by the constitution. Mr. Bean can give you a better answer, in stead of my oversimplified one liner.–Din Merican
Dato’ Din,
Don’t hope too much on those from Johor to read the book. They couldn’t accept a harmless tweet from Nizar, let alone a book like this. I know them. I’m not even surprised if they are suffering from God-complex just looking at how Johoreans worship them. People seriously worship the grounds they walked on.
In that case the task falls on Dato LtGen Affendi acting as aide-de-camp to the Head of State to tell him.
Elementary things first, and then only all the eloborate trappings….
Universal law, whether God’s law, or law by men for earthly existence, For Every Right there is an Obligation, no matter who or what or where – Jus Naturale ( have i got my Latin correct?) – meaning of course that none can ignore, let alone supercede, ” God’s Law ” in our earthly existence….
The pertinent point ? Rulers & Monarchs are appointed by and under due process of Law, the Federal Constitution and therefore rightly termed as Constitutional Monarchy – more so, when at time of transition of power from Tanah Melayu, they signed as TRUSTEES to Convey the ” Land ” to the New Malaysia, and they are trustees as well….*let alone being Trustees of ‘God”, A Monarch to abide by the law.
The Rule of Law is about Equality before the Law, hence the Law of the Land equally apllies to them as it does to common men…. basic & fundamental may be, but not easy to practise. i guess…..
Azmi Sharom has hit it on the nail. This country or those governing specifically and religous bodies, are indeed ANTI intellectual.
So this book by Zaid will not be read infact, it will be ….banned, you guessed it. The trend now. So no discussion or debate will be had on the actual powers and status of the Rulers and how they can positively contribute to the maturing of this country.
Who is the poet ? :
The glories of our blood & state are shadows not substantial things,
There is no armour against fate, death lays its icy hands on kings.
Sceptre & Crown must tumble down & in the dust be equal made,
With the poor crroked scythe and spade !
Only the actions of the just, smell sweet & blossom in the dust….
Put the Fear of God into men :
” The glories of our blood and state, are Shadows not substantial things.
There is no armour gainst fate, Death lays his icy hands on kings…
Scepter and crown must tumble down; and in the dust be equalde
With the poor crooked Scythe and Spade…..
” …..Only the actions of the Just smell sweet & blossom in the Dust ”
( can’t recall who the Poet was , but its my silly urge to repeat this, thanx folks )
So now you guys what Dummies on “How to be a good constitutional Ruler” be written so they could read before they go to bed?? This time not only will Sharom hit it on the nail but hit the nail on its head?
First and foremost, Malaysians, especially the Malays MUST get rid of their feudalistic mentality to address issues of the excesses of the monarchy . No amount of intellectual debate or discussion will change anything. Hopeless.
Zaid Ibrahim is wasting his time writing and Azmi Sharom is wasting his time commenting.
Zaid should write for the rural Malay folks to read… or make a DVD version of what he wrote into some kind of a documentary video tracing the role and behaviours of past and present royals and their excesses.
And Zaid or whoever producing the video to get ready for the DVD to be banned, and get visitors at their door step at midnight and their computers confiscated.
Skirting the edges to discus such important issues because of fear of the authorities is wasting everybody’s time.
What Zaid and Azmi are saying is already talked about in coffee shops and whispered in dark corners for decades.
So, what’s new,Azmi, which I or most Malaysians already know about the behaviour of our monarchy?
…. And one more thing, non Malays will not touch issues on the Malay Rulers with a 100 foot pole. This is an issue ONLY for the Malays to sort it out.
Non Malays will just continue to more money so that they can send their children overseas to study and their hildren have a career overseas and start a family and start life anew, while their Malay brethren will spend the better part of their life time worrying about how to handle the excesses of their Malay Rulers and the royal families and how to get a share of the crumbs thrown out by the UMNO putras and the UMNO cronies.
Even MCA Wanita Chief Ng Yen Yen got a PR from Australia so that her children can have an education and an opportunity for a good life in Australia. For all you know, her children are still PR or citizens of Australia. And if things go really wrong for Ng Yen Yen in Malaysia she can aleays get out and live in Australia.
And the poor malays will have to stay put in their native ‘homeland’ so as to remain Subserviant to Feudalism, which can over-ride The Rule of Law, whilst top in the heirarchy structure of society continue to RULE THE LAW…or to overrule the laws that do not suit them at whims….
Either way Frank : head i win tail you loose in both situations…
DEFERENCE – that’s what I think the Malays have vis-a-vis their Royalty and UMNO politicians.
Reminds me of my dear departed father-in-law. He was a typical working-class Englishman who voted Conservative all his life.
He reasoned, “What do the working class twits in the Labour Party know about running the country? They are not like Royalty or the Tory lot, who are born to rule.”
That’s deference for you.
frank I dont agree. The issue of the Ruler is for all Malaysians ,not just some.
“Even MCA Wanita Chief Ng Yen Yen got a PR from Australia so that her children can have an education and an opportunity for a good life in Australia. For all you know, her children are still PR or citizens of Australia. And if things go really wrong for Ng Yen Yen in Malaysia she can aleays get out and live in Australia.”
Not all Chinese are birds of fine weather. I know a failed property developer who escapes to Australia to escape the long arm of the law who is now chopping up chickens at a super market. That is not too much of a problem for him because before he became a property developer he was rearing ducks at the back of his house.
Their Malay brethren will spend the better part of their life time worrying about how to handle the excesses of their Malay Rulers and the royal families and how to get a share of the crumbs thrown out by the UMNO putras and the UMNO cronies?? That is only half-truth.
While UMNOputras and UMNO cronies pump millions into foreign countries so they and their offsprings could have a second country, a second home, second wives to go to back to. Who says you need to be legal permanent residents in the United States to buy up properties? Instead all you need is US$1.0 million and ten U.S. citizens in your employ and a franchise from JAWI to sell ‘halal’ condoms.
The issue of the Ruler is for all Malaysians ,not just some.-Kathy
The non Malays will very active spectators. They are minding their own business, literally.
I know a failed property developer who escapes to Australia to escape the long arm of the law who is now chopping up chickens at a super market- Mr Bean
But what is your point?
While UMNOputras and UMNO cronies pump millions into foreign countries- Mr Bean
You are missing the point. But they are a minority among the Malay population. What about the majority in the Malay society. They have millions?????
And the poor malays will have to stay put in their native ‘homeland’ so as to remain Subserviant to Feudalism, – Abnizar7
They have a choice to make the difference but they refuse to exercise it.
For them, however bad, their sense of security is the statis quo. Change is a very frightening thing for them. They are by nature NOT risk takers, not even calculated risks. Of course there are individuals who are exception to the rule.
An attribute exploited and manipulated by UMNO.If not, we will not have the same corrupt ruling UMNO-BN running this country unbroken since independence. Only the Malays can TAKE THE LEAD to effect political change in the country.
Non Malays on the other hand, especially the Chinese, are risk takers and that is why they tend to gravitate into the business world, and they are gamblers by instinct. More Chinese voted PAS candidates in the urban seats in the 2008 election and threw out MCA and Gerakan Chinese candidates instead.
I know a failed property developer who escapes to Australia to escape the long arm of the law who is now chopping up chickens at a super market- Mr Bean
But what is your point?
Frank – July 14, 2012 at 11:13 pm
——————-
My point?? My point is that chicken deserves better.
“Reminds me of my dear departed father-in-law. He was a typical working-class Englishman who voted Conservative all his life.” Ai Tze
I hate the very sight of African Americans and hispanics being pro Republicans and rooting for the Republican party. And between hispanics and African Americans there is the tension. My daugher-in-law says she would not have voted for Obama had it not been for McCain and that bitch Sarah Palin. Asians? Asians are at the very bottom of the food chain. And I hate Asians, especially that pug faced Michelle Malkin woman on Fox who likes to suck white dicks so long as they are attached to white torsos, and the rest of the posse on Fox News, that Laura Ingraham woman, Hannity and Glen Beck can all come and suck my dick. I think I can proudly say about myself today that after these many years living here I am able to see through the color to the struggle of ordinary human beings.
I can’t bare to see the sight of that moron who goes by the name of Mitt Romney who thinks the qualification for the post of U.S. President is being able to turn in profits for your company. In that case then just make that small mouthed Donald Trump U.S. President. This is a country that you are running, not some organization that you could simply re-structure, lay off employees at will, including families who have devoted their best years of their lives to it, an organization you could suck dry, and then discard it like some piece of paper you wiped your ass clean with, and then stash all your money in some off shore account.
Yes I know that they are ignoring it. But thats the issue here sint it? Once upon a time they ignored politics and now we are in the state we are. Now they ignore the Rulers and how best to interprete their powers and their involvement and later we will have problems. So you see it is standard behaviour. Then suddenly everyone wakes up and shouts , how unfair everything is. Question is, what were they doing all this while? Justifying to themselves that this or that issue is not theirs to deal with but someone else’s and then shit hits the fan. Justifying to themsleves that their only concern is making money , for the Malaysian Chinese, for the Malaysian Malays it is their religion and how to get to heaven and for the Indians , well who knows, they have been mistreated to. But hey, it is every one els’s problem but mine. and 54 years later, the country is collapsing around ALL of us.
My point?? My point is that chicken deserves better.-Mr Bean
In that case, be a vegetarian.
This is a country that you are running, not some organization that you could simply re-structure……an organization you could suck dry, and then discard it like some piece of paper you wiped your ass clean with, and then stash all your money in some off shore account.-Mr Bean
Pretty good description of Malaysia run by UMNO. You still miss Malaysia after all.
… And which means Malaysian Embassy in Washington should contact Mitt Romney to make sure he votes in the next GE 13.
Now I understand why Najib loves the pro Republican APCO and hired them to be his and UMNO’s public relations advisors and UMNO’s affinity for Republican Presidential candidates. Rosmah loves the political limelight, inspired by Sarah Palin.
The Fat Mamma better learn fast. Absent a statute on crimes committed in the course of a felony, she is still accomplice to crimes committed by the husband and is liable as principal under the accomplice theory.
For them, however bad, their sense of security is the status quo. Change is a very frightening thing for them. They are by nature NOT risk takers, not even calculated risks. — old frank
Where is the logic in rocking the boat during calm weather?
Ampun Tuanku?? Patek tak salah pun kena minta ampun.
Ampun Tuanku??…Memang tak salah punn..tapi kekadang ada yang tersasul juga sebab ketakutan..!!
Allow me to relate an incident about this Chinaman who had been conferred a state-award (pingat kebesaran negeri)…The irony and to make matter worse, I was together with him in the same group ( five of us) when presented to the Sultan in a row to receive the Award…This Chinapek suddenly jumped queue instead..The House broke into uproar and ‘laughter’ when both myself and another fellow collided at the dais to receive our Awards…The Chinaman later apologised to the five of us for his blunder and told us he actually shivered at the ceremony when presented in front of the Sultan…Anyway we had a free dinner from him later and became close friend…Ampun Tuanku!!
The Brits never had to beg for forgiveness to the Queen merely for wanting to speak to her.
Malaysians are today kissing the hand of the Prime Minister. Kathy says she is never going to do that because she says she doesn’t know where the hand has been.
Malaysians are today kissing the hand of the Prime Minister.- Mr Bean
The hand kissing is done only by the Malays. The Chinese only bows, and the Indians clasp their own hands.The Malays also clasp their hands with their hands bow.
I think kissing the hands of your parents or grandparents is OK since those are the hands that brought you up.
I only remember one MIC Indian leader who grovel by kissing the hand of the Prime Minister.
The ones who got his hands kissed most times in public is Kutty Supremo when he was PM for 22 years.
See this rabid pro Mahathir lackey nicknamed Bigdog kissing Kutty Supremo’s hands. He would not be a millionnaire today if he did not kiss those hands. He is waiting for Kutty Supremo’s son to be the next DPM or PM before he starts kissing the son’s hands again
The hand kissing extended to the Prime Minister by the Malays because those are the hands that give free contracts and largesse. Nowadays the the Prime Minister of Malaysia replaces the Malay Rulers with a life-giving hands in ensuring you live in peace and good health and perhaps your life.
I wonder whether Altantuya ever kiss the hands of her powerful Malaysian benefactors… we WILL never know, because she was blown to pieces in the jungle LITERALLY with C4.
correction
.The Malays also clasp their hands with their HEADS bow.
CORRECTED LINK
See this rabid pro Mahathir lackey nicknamed Bigdog kissing Kutty Supremo’s hands. He would not be a millionnaire today if he did not kiss those hands. He is waiting for Kutty Supremo’s son to be the next DPM or PM before he starts kissing the son’s hands again
… here is the photo of that asslicking MIC leader Hulu Selangor MP Kamalanathan kissing the hands of that “I am Malay first Malaysian second” DPM…
The reason for the hand kissing by a Hindu ?? Those were the hands that approved this grovelling Hindu to be selected as a candidate for Hulu Selangor and won the by election.
You see, even the Indians have to kiss the hands of UMNO to have a life in Malaysia.
Yet to see MCA Cjhinese leaders kissing the hands of UMNO leaders!!!! That will be the day when that grovelling MCA would have lost total respect from the Chinese and he can forgets becoming a leader of MCA, let alone for the Chinese community.
Thats right Mr bean, eewww. Never.
But that MIC ass kisser is licking his own hand !! I think MIC should run courses on how to kiss the hand. Apparently it is a lot harder than kissing the ass.
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