A tale of two MB (3)

' THEY WHO TAKE UMBRAGE AT WISDOM'S POISE

Ther' be a pontifical facade that exhudes they,
who bare weakness, of self confidence, when
consternation disrupts...their grandiose stage.
And it be these individuals who be first to cast
aspersion, first to wield the sword, first to level
sentence, as magistrate or jury. Yet, they be th'
same ones, who cowar first to brave challenge,
and the last to be seen, when chips, are facing
downward. Poise, and Wisdom........are virtues
of silent heroes......They who take bull's by their
horns....yet everso gently....................................

Frank James Ryan, Jr.

In a Malaysiakini letter to editor:"Politicians come and go, Rulers here to stay"

First, it happened in Perlis, where the Raja of Perlis did not agree with the nomination of the PM on the choice of MB. However, the issue of the MB of Perlis was less complicated, as the majority of the state assembly persons did not voice their support for the choice of the PM.

Now, the Sultan of Terengganu (through the Regent Advisory Council) also does not agree with the choice of the PM (Idris Jusoh) as the MB of Terengganu.

It cannot be denied that the institution of the Malay Rulers is part and parcel of Malaysia. After all, the police force is officially known as Polis Di Raja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Police) and according to Article 41 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, ‘the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be the Supreme Commander of the armed forces of the Federation’.

Unless the issue of the appointment of the Terengganu MB is handled well, Malaysia will face another constitutional crisis involving the Malay Rulers which is potentially bigger than the 1980s constitutional crisis which resulted when the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was removed for the passing of laws. There was another crisis in the 1990s when the immunity from prosecution granted to the Malay Rulers was removed.

The sentiments on the ground are that Umno is being very biadap to the Sultan.

Meanwhile, former Terengganu menteri besar Idris Jusoh has sought the forgiveness of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin - who is also Sultan of Terengganu - over matters which had incurred the ruler’s wrath.

PM ABDULLAH too will seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,to discuss and resolve the issue on the appointment of the Terengganu Menteri Besar.

"I will certainly be meeting with Tuanku"

Abdullah said the meeting would be held as soon as possible.

"I wish I could have done it Monday," said the Umno president.

UMNO take umbrage at saying Mizan's choice was unconstitutional because almost all state assembly lawmakers supported Abdullah's choice, Idris Jusoh, whom the king dislikes intensely. While Ahmad does not have the support of legislators, he has grassroots support in UMNO.

In another development Malaysia's ruling party may postpone internal elections due this year, an official said Tuesday, in a move apparently aimed at protecting the prime minister from challengers in the wake of an election debacle.

The United Malays National Organization is scheduled to hold its annual meeting in August when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must seek re-election as party president. But party laws allow the elections to be postponed up to June 2009.

"So, there is still time. ... If elections are held now, it could prove disastrous for the party," UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib said.