Riding on the waves

One of my colleagues said something a couple of days after the election, which struck me quite strongly. "Now that people realised that it is possible to shake the status quo without any major riots (like May 13, 1969), we can expect more changes to come!" he said.

Today marks exactly two weeks after the 12th General Election. Unlike my initial worry, the country has survived the outcome rather triumphantly. Except for a few minor hiccups like the delay in the appointment of a PAS member as a Perak MP and Penang's Chief Minister's misquoted speech that caused some displeasure up north, it has been business as usual in our daily lives.

Unlike what some politicians had warned about in the past, we have not seen a violent conflict. The few demonstrations reported so far have been relatively small in nature (as in couple of hundreds of demonstrators) and did not spark off into a major riot. It is a good indication of how the society has really matured and understood the purpose of an election; that is really to choose for a government that comprises of just and fair individuals with high sense of integrity. I look forward to the day when Malaysia will embrace democracy in its totality, when we will see a change of government every five years without having fear and doubt.

Of the many events that unfolded after the elections, the most unprecedented ones were the rulers' subsequent course of action.

As a backgrounder, Malaysia's democracy is slightly different than the US and is more resemblent of the Westminster parliamentary system of Bristish. Malaysia practices federal consititutional elective monarchy. This means the head of the Federal state is the Yang diPertuan Agong (the King) while the respective nine states having a royal leader. Penang, Federal Territory, Sabah & Sarawak do not have kings and therefore headed by Governors. The federal executive authority lies on the elected Government, headed by the Prime Minister.

Since independence 50 years ago, royal rulers of the states have not acted on their own discretion when it comes to electing the state's chief minister after the elections. They usually appointe the representative recommended by the elected party's president. And since Malaysia has not seen a change in power, the elected party has been the same ruling party in the last 12 elections, including the one that just passed. This time, however, the kings of Perlis and Terengganu decided to act on their own and elected a person of their own choice as chief minister instead of the reps that were recommended by the Prime Minister.

According to the state's constitution, the ruler have the prerogative to elect a person that he is satistified and confident in to serve the people. Nonetheless, the candidate must be from the political party that has secured the majority of votes in the election. In the case of the two states, it does seem that the rulers have acted in accordance to the the constitution. More importantly, it is an indication of a more active participation of the monarchy's part.

Another event involves the ruler of Perak. During the setting up of the state government, the appointment of a PAS (an Islamic party of the opposition) member as the chief minister became a topic issue, which led to the postponement of the swearing-in ceremony. Immediately after that, the Regent of Perak called to meet the representatives of the elected government and as a result, all the 33 elected state reps signed a letter of confidence in the appointed person. Such swift act on the behalf of the ruler has been applauded by many because his majesty acted in the best interest of the state, to avoid more conflicts that could have arose.

Malaysian political landscape has definitely changed and changing everyday. Like what my colleague said, now that people is aware that change could indeed happen, they have become more bold in their pursuits. In the same, when one has seen the world and its possibilities, he will dare to have bigger dreams.