Two events have recently reinforced the public’s confidence that our rulers are a crucial part of the system’s check and balances that can guarantee the stability and prosperity of our country. The first relates to the precipitous retirement of chief justice Ahmad Fairuz and the role of the recent meeting of the Council of Rulers, under the chairmanship of Perak’s Sultan Azlan Shah, in ensuring that the integrity of this eminent office is above and beyond reproach.
Secondly, a public march was undertaken to hand a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the conduct of elections in the country. It will be useful for all Malaysians to be reminded of the role of the King in the country.
As the eminent jurist Prof Hickling has described, “The office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the essential one of the Malaysian constitution without which all others become meaningless.” Even though the constitution has been amended many times, very few have concerned the office of the Agong. This – in my opinion – is an acknowledgment that the rulers and our King are the ultimate defenders of the constitution.
Another important point to note is that whilst there has been bickering and disagreement over all the other key political players and stakeholders in the country, the King and rulers are the most visible and important symbol of unity.
There is hardly any occasion in our history where anyone has questioned the role of the King and rulers. I am sure this allegiance and unquestioning faith in the integrity of the rulers and Agong by all Malaysians will continue so long as there is a Malaysian nation.