The Monarchy in Contemporary Malaysia

Theme

4 Raja Nazrin Shah becoming a constitutional monarchy. This is what I am here to talk about today, and how this was achieved within a fully democratized system, thereby invoking the implicit consent of the rakyat (people) — the hallmark of democracy. We are a small but extraordinary little country, and an ingenious one. This has helped us reach an exceptional political and democratic arrangement in which the monarchy is placed above the political fray, yet remains an indispensable part of the social fabric, conferring its own brand of psychological security to the rakyat of all races. Part of the inbuilt respect for the monarchy is the permanence of the institution in a volatile world. It is an instrument of unity in diversity and an anchor institution. Theme These are strong claims. But now there is another implicit challenge in the temper of the times in which we live. We have reached — indeed, mankind has reached — a critical juncture in our affairs which dictates that we re-examine our basic assumptions. These are times of strategic change more rapid and profound than we have ever known. The question that is bound to arise is the continued relevance of the monarchy. Can it remain 5 The Monarchy in Contemporary Malaysia viable? My thesis will be that it still has a crucial, albeit more challenging and complex role to play in the modern orbit of Malaysia in 2004 and beyond. In fact, its very uniqueness makes it peculiarly apt for the exigencies of the time. The distinguishing characteristic to which I refer that differentiates it from the stereotyped version is an unusual fusion of monarchy, democracy, and Islam — three powerfulforces.Wehavesuccessfullyintegrated them into one dynamic. The Harmony Dividend The Malaysian monarchy is not merely symbolic. Support for it goes beyond sentiment or symbolism. It is true we have retained the colourful mosaic of ceremonial splendours associated with royalty, which adds a touch of pageantry to what can sometimes be the humdrum side of life. One can even argue that this is the Malaysian alternative to the iconography of Hollywood though not as ephemeral. However, we are here concerned with the much more substantive role of the monarchy and its contribution to the surprising stability and harmony we have achieved. “Surprising” because it has to be seen in the context of the multi-ethnic profile of our population. Not just that, but the ...