KUANTAN: The Royal Institution is entitled to give opinions and advice on issues concerning its people.
Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said the Constitutional Monarchy system was a mechanism to unify different cultures and religions.
“Constitutional Monarchy’s role is to express an opinion and give advice on issues concerning our country and people. In fact, Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, a law professor at the University of Malaya stated that the kings also play a role in using their credentials to advise and solve problems when the harmony of its people is threatened.
“After the 2008 General Election, the role became important when a crisis was resolved over the Chief Minister appointment in Perlis, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu through the ruler’s wisdom,” he said during the launch of the Royal Discourse: Kings, Constitution and Patriotism organised by Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (MUBARAK) today.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and MUBARAK president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman.
Tengku Abdullah said the Constitutional Monarchy's authority to advise and express opinions followed the ‘constructive patriotism’ concept from the ‘Manifestations of Blind and Constructive Patriotism’ book by Robert Schatz and Ervin Staub.
He said the concept explained that the authority to advise and giving opinions was due to good patriotism spirit and big responsibility towards the country.
“A constructive patriotic would question and criticise for a better change for the country, he would express anger and shame on the action by certain parties which have a bad impact on the country," he said.
Tengku Abdullah also stressed that the role of the Royal Institution as a symbol of unity was relevant in Malaysia which had different political, social, religious and economic demographics.
He said it was more relevant if the country was facing various global threats through the spread of western democracy and modernisation that could lead to the clash of state’s identity.
“Our country’s uniqueness also reveals the need for a neutral institution that has a voice in advising and expressing opinions. If there is no such institution, the prosperity and unity of our people will be ruined,” he said.
The Regent of Pahang also rejected the perception of Malay Rulers as not patriotic and violating the concept of loyalty between the people and the rulers to hand over the sovereignty after British came to Tanah Melayu around the 19th century.
“I dare to argue any negative perception by saying the real patriotism spirit of the Malay Rulers is still intact .
“The Malay states also have never been a colony of the British and the Malay Rulers still have their thrones and the power to govern the state,” he said.