Palace, Political Party and Power: A Story of the Socio-Political Development of Malay Kingship (review)

This book is the newest contribution to the socio-political history of Malaysia. Since its emergence, Palace, Political Party and Power has received a wide review among historians of Southeast Asia and those interested in Malaysian history. One explanation for this interest surely has much to do with the fact that the book deals mainly with both the historical and contemporary role of the palace, the very topic of great interest presently. Palace, Political Party and Power appears to be a book on the right topic at the right time.

The writer—to quote Greg Lopez of the New Mandala Book Review, one of 'the most renowned and respected historian[s] of modern Thailand'—turns her attention to focus on Malaysia's rulership and its socio-political relationship with the United Malays National Organisation/UMNO, the country's most powerful post-war political party. Palace, Political Party and Power covers the Rulers-UMNO socio-political relations from the immediate post-war year right up to the first decade of the 21st century. The main thesis of the book is a re-look and re-interpretation of the impact of the Japanese occupation of Malaya, especially on the socio-political decline of the Rulers and the transformation of the Malay mindset which enabled the Malays to stand up not only against the Malayan Union but, most significantly, against the Malay Rulers themselves. It goes on to analyse the on-going rivalry and competition between the traditional ruling elite, the Rulers and the new ruling elite represented by UMNO for the privilege of championing the Malay cause.

The book examines, in nine chapters, the fluctuation of this competitive relationship between the Rulers and UMNO, especially after the era of Tunku Abdul Rahman. Hence, the argument revolves around the role of royalty in Malaysia and their relationship with the UMNO political leaders. The book illustrates that, in spite of various conflicts, UMNO leaders held the socio-political upper hand over the Rulers, at least up to the 2008 general election.

The role and function of the Rulers within pre-war Malay society has been discussed in detail by various scholars, most outstandingly by Anthony Milner and John Gullick. In general, both Gullick and Milner agree that the symbol of sociopolitical power was in the hands of the Rulers. Kobkua's discussion on the Malay kingship in the post-colonial period offers another suggestion. The socio-political development, especially in the period since the war years, confirms that sociopolitical power, symbolic or otherwise, principally shifted from the Rulers to political leaders of the ruling party, i.e. UMNO. The decision to circumscribe the Rulers' constitutional power, as well as to strip their immunity privilege, during the Mahathir premiership amply demonstrates the enormous power at the command of the political party with the majority in Parliament and of its leaders who were able to forestall and/or overcome the hostile influence of the Rulers against the government.

The account and analyses in the book provide readers with the latest information on various aspects of Malay society in Malaysia. For example, in her discussion on the role of the Rulers prior to independence, Kobkua suggests that during colonial rule the Rulers and royal families were able to command almost absolute loyalty and respect from their Malay subjects. Kobkua argues that the colonial power, namely the British, understood well this invaluable contribution of the Rulers in their scheme of administration of Malaya. They were very successful in manipulating the Malay royal institution to strengthen their supreme powers and control of the Malay states. Kobkua demonstrates that, in general, the British built up a good rapport with royalty.

The Japanese, however, took a new path in their dealings with the Rulers. Though the Japanese eventually chose to allow the Malay Rulers to keep their honorific title of 'Sultan' and 'Raja', they treated sultans very...