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Believe me, having to write this 4th (and hopefully last) article in this series distresses me more than it does you and it is in the umpteenth re-write.
{mosgoogle right} I had hoped the 3rd article would be the last. Those who wish to follow the arguments from the start may check these links: The Case for Greater Involvement of the Agung in Malaysian Democracy A Greater Role for the Agong (2) A GREATER Agong! (3) {mosgoogle right} We are a young nation – too young. We do not have ownership of strong democratic traditions and institutions. The west took centuries to achieve the level of sophistication they enjoy today. We are trying to shorten it to a few decades. As a result, we ALL still wallow in and cling on to racial, communal and religious traditions and institutions while trying to crawl into the new millennium. We have not embraced strong democratic traditions and real respect for each others differences yet. We have no ownership of these traditions while institutions that support these democratic traditions are weak or non-existent. We are thus unable to defend a democracy that is based purely on the western model with the end result that manipulative, corrupt and abusive elements have wormed their way into power. Questions now arise - Do we have to continue to try and fit ourselves into borrowed institutions or do we create new institutions that fit us and treasure them as our very own? Do we ignore the realities on the ground and insist that we stick blindly to British models? If that is the case, how are Malaysians going to migrate from traditional values to modern values? Will the transition be managed or unmanaged? Do we have to go the same route as the westerners? (by civil war, religious fanaticism and finally to complete exhaustion and realisation that killing each other is stupid and wasteful, because this is what happened to the Europeans during 2 world wars and endless religious wars and this is what the Kenyans are discovering for themselves). Do we have to take several centuries to become more sophisticated in the same way as the Europeans? We Malaysians honour and respect our Rulers. This characteristic or quality has too long been ignored and neglected in government mainly because we blindly ape the west and adopt their prejudices. Should we not try to incorporate all the good things about our cultures and traditions into our own modern institutions? We need the Agong – probably more than he needs us, but we are too proud to admit it. Instead we go into a frenzy of debate on constitutional law which most of us know little about anyway just to prove he needs us more than we need him as well as to cover our fear of the unknown. We tell him he should do this or do that for us and he should be more like this or more like that to pander to our own wishy-washiness. There is really no need for such frenzy or fear that this stage. There is time enough to think seriously about this move. When the rakyat have decided and the time comes, a deputation of representatives will seek audience with the Malay Rulers and Agong and negotiate greater powers and greater role for the Agong. I believe that they will find him reasonable and will accept certain sacrifices and certain controls in exchange for greater powers and a greater role in Malaysian democracy. You can believe otherwise, but let me remind you that the Agong is non-partisan. He need not wait for the two-bit opposition to get their act together. If UMNO is more politically savvy and desperate enough to garner the votes it needs, it is actually in a better position to push through these reforms. Step one – UMNO loses support and gets desperate. Step two – UMNO champions a greater role for the Agong in UMNO democracy. Step 3 – UMNO regains two thirds majority. Step 4 – UMNO negotiates terms with the Agong and Malay Rulers based on UMNO’s interests. Are you going to cry spilt milk then? Can you imagine what greater powers for the Agong might be under UMNO democracy? I can. That is why he is MY Agong as well as YOURS. UMNO already controls all 3 branches of government. Never let UMNO get its dirty hands on OUR Agong. People who argue that those who are born leaders and inherit their positions should not become leaders actually use racist and facist logic. This same logic on birth and genes can be used to say that Malays can or cannot be allowed into certain positions of power. Chinese can or cannot be employed in certain jobs. Indians can or cannot be given certain responsibilities. This same logic says that only persons with the best skills may be elected into positions of power. Well, we have ample proof of the fallacy of this position. Our elected representatives are extremely skillful all right – skilled in seduction, manipulation, telling lies, making false promises, bribery, extortion, election fraud, swindling, cheating, corruption, cronyism, imprisoning people without trial, cynically using race and religion for selfish motives, etc. The list goes on. We try to improve what we have got. We use whatever we have to do it. I repeat again in case people still cannot understand. UMNO already controls all 3 branches of government. What is wrong with using a hereditary leader as a check on UMNO’s absolute power? The same persons who shout ad nauseum that Malays are useless, lazy and parasitic now want to continue to use the Agong as the perfect role model. The Agong has not said he wants greater powers. I don’t even know if he wants them.. What I am proposing makes ALL Malaysians including the Agong face the future together and work hard at improving our nation and our own lot. DAULAT TUANKU! By batsman
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