Response to comment by 'undergrad2' to report attached below with above title that appeared in Malaysia Today website http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/newsncom.php?itemid=7222
To undergrad2,
You are more concerned about the future and privileges of the royal rulers and the risk of a constitutional crisis than the well-being of the common people and the future of the country as a whole.
If the country is run by ineffective and corrupt people as the sultan said, then those should be the last things one should be concerned about.
The sultan did what is nobler than his title - to speak out for what is decent and proper for the well-being of all the people of the country.
That itself bodes well for the future of the country.
Perhaps that man occupies a station in life far higher than you can imagine or a constitution can make.
One where a man holds dear the conviction that a life well lived is worth more than one of privileged but silent witness to the well-being of the common people threatened.
Such men command in others respect far above any law can impose.
Noble principles give a man loyal acclaim
Without such makes any royalty ill-claimed.
undergrad2 wrote:
Hi y'all,
I see a very dangerous trend in Malaysia. The Malay Rulers are fast taking on a political or a semi-political role. A couple or two may be tempted to even compete for that role.
The BN government under Badawi is now faced with a dilemma. To go against the Malay Rulers who are now urged by the Malaysian public to assume the role of saviour and court of last resort, would be a mistake. But at the same time, dangerous precedents are being set and may culminate in a constitutional crisis that would rock the country. The only winner to emerge from this crisis in the long run would be the anti-monarchists and anti-royalists who would like to see Malaysia turned into a republic with a president as chief executive.
The Raja-Raja has long been a symbol of Malay hegemony. With them gone it will be a different ball game.
YM himself is a kaum kerabat. Is he prepared to give up all the privileges that come with being a member of the royal house? Is he prepared to sever all links with royalty? From time to time and reading in between the lines, YM seems to be relying on his royal roots.
Sultan expresses concern over host of issues
Reported by Malaysia Today website
13/08/2007
Immediate action must be taken to check corruption, bureaucratic red tape, race problems, religious intolerance, the brain drain and crime, the Sultan of Selangor said.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said Malaysia had achieved tremendous progress over the last 50 years.
Describing Malaysia as a blessed country, he said the people certainly had much to be thankful for but should not rest on their laurels as Malaysians also needed to take stock of what the country needed to do in the next 50 years.
“Corruption is still a problem, which the people are very concerned about, and more effective action needs to be taken,” he said.
Describing corruption as a cancerous cell, the Sultan said if graft could not be wiped out, it should be checked effectively.
He also took to task government agencies that continued to slow down approvals for foreign investors, saying the lackadaisical attitude of some government servants had affected the investment momentum.
“They must change their mindset because delays mean escalating costs and lost job opportunities, which may even lead to corrupt practices,” he said.
The Sultan said he was upset because the mindset of some people had not changed, saying he feared investors may move to neighbouring countries which were very competitive in attracting investors.
Selangor, he said, was one of the country’s most important states and he needed to emphasise this.
In a strongly worded interview, the Sultan said he had given Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo a deadline for applications after the end of an investment promotion trip.
He acknowledged the Federal Government had set up the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) to fast-track procedures and transactions between the Government and private sector.
“That is good but more needs to be done because the feedback from investors is that there is a greater need for a bigger push. Time waits for no one. We do not want investors to be discouraged from investing in Malaysia, as our neighbouring countries would also be willing to accept them.”
The Sultan also expressed his concern over the country’s brain drain, saying talented young people were leaving the country.
“No one, irrespective of his race, should be denied any opportunities. I am sad to see good people being lost to other countries,” he said.
He said Singapore was the greatest benefactor and that even the Singapore National Library was designed by a Malaysian.
In another case, he said, a highly qualified Malaysian academic was not accepted by local universities but was invited by the National University of Singapore to head a department.
The Sultan feared talent from the tourism and hospitality sectors would be affected when the island republic’s integrated entertainment resorts opened.
On race relations, he called for the young to have friends from other races, saying this was important.
He said Tunku Abdul Rahman was very particular about national unity and as the nation celebrated Merdeka, no one should forget his legacy of insisting on racial harmony.
The Sultan urged the people in Selangor to reject any form of racial and religious intolerance.
“Islam respects other religions and other religions must also respect Islam,” he said, adding multiracialism must be instilled at primary school level.
“If there is a need to re-evaluate our school system, then our authorities must do so to promote better racial harmony,” he said.
On crime, he said the police needed support from the people as they lacked manpower and facilities to fight crime.
The Sultan said he had asked the Selangor state government to install more CCTVs as a way to check crime.
He said he was aware Selangor had the highest crime rate because of the influx of people from other states and foreigners to work in the state.
On the environment, he said the state had planted over a million trees while the palace had committed itself to planting 5,000 trees on its grounds.
“The environment is our concern and will remain so. Tree replanting is essential,” he said, adding that tree-planting efforts in Bukit Jelutong were commendable.
The Sultan said he was also upset with the use of his name by unscrupulous people for securing state awards or low-cost houses.
“I am disheartened by such people because Selangor does not sell state awards, that is clear, even to the people.
“But I am glad that the people in Selangor have taken the trouble to call the palace to verify claims from such dishonest people,” he said.
The Sultan said the people could call his private secretary Datuk Mohamed Munir Bani at 03-5519 4242 or e-mail istanamastika@yahoo.com to check.
He said the palace believed in transparency and would be pleased to get feedback from the rakyat on developments in Selangor.
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