The Rukunegara...again.

Almost exactly two months before the day Sultan Azlan Shah decided that Barisan Nasional has the right to form the state government of Perak, I blogged about the Rukunegara (Getting To The Core-The Right Of Belief) and one particular principle therein which I am not comfortable with-it's the first one actually; "Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan" or "Belief In God". Anyway that was not so much about God but the right to believe or not to believe. For most of us who have forgotten, the Rukunegara goes like this:

WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:

• achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society;
• preserving a democratic way of life;
• creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;
• guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and
• building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.
  

NOW THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:

• BELIEF IN GOD
• LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
• THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
• THE RULE OF LAW
• COURTESY AND MORALITY

Today I am reminded of the Rukunegara, back to the days in Taiping, Perak when it made its first appearance in 1970. Fast forward 39 years and we have a Constitutional crisis in my home state. The Silver State is seemingly being bought and sold for a few taels (relatively speaking la) of silver! All this seemingly being condoned by a much revered Sultan of whom Perakians generally claim bragging rights over the other Malaysians. Yeop was proud that he had a Sultan who earned his spurs as Lord President of the Malaysian Judiciary before ascending the throne and who is well known in the international field hockey scene.

Why is Yeop (and other Malaysians) up in arms (here, here, here, here, here, here, ...) now? Why is there widespread protest on the streets and more so on the internet? What is clear is that Sultan Azlan's decision does not go down well with most Malaysians and more so with the majority in the legal fraternity. Just check out SOME commentaries here, here, here, ... .

Perhaps, it was deemed that a former Lord President will not be expected to make an error in law and that Malaysians will respect his decision of sacking Nizar and his state assembly...and not react. In any case, I await his written judgment...but wait a minute! He is no longer part of the judiciary...he is royalty who may have well made an executive decision as royalty. Sounds like schizophrenia huh?

We are generally a nation of law abiding citizens; innocent until proven guilty? It does seem as if we are "hanging" Sultan Azlan before the fact, but certainly the groundswell does mean something to him, and has bearing to the ultimate truth. The fact of the matter is that his decision is debatable and its consequence as a precedence will be recorded for posterity. Being debatable, why the dogmatism? The most equitable solution was surely a rakyats' referendum. Anyway all will be decided in the courtrooms and ultimately, at the ballot box regardless of what the courts decide.

Going back to the principles of the Rukunegara:

1. BELIEF IN GOD
2. LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
3. THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
4. THE RULE OF LAW
5. COURTESY AND MORALITY

Principle number 1 aside, what the fcuk is happening to our country?

Number 2; LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY?
Number 3; THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION?
Number 4; THE RULE OF LAW?

How do we subject ourselves to rule of law if apparently even the sanctity of the constitution can be disregarded by the act of an authority that is deemed supreme if not legally, at least formally. How does the rakyat follow the Rukunegara if they cannot reconcile loyalty to royalty with the supremacy of a constitution that has been unable to uphold the rule of law when wisdom is sought from royalty?

What about Number 5? COURTESY AND MORALITY? Courtesy seems to have gone out the vista in cyberspace (check out Rocky's attempt to swim against the tide and up the creek) since morality has gone to the Frogs!