Update 6/2/09 – Thanks to the Pahlawan volunteers, this letter is also now available as an online petition – feel free to sign!
I’m not sure I’m allowed to write letters to a Sultan. *If* I were, this is what I would write:
Your Royal Highness,
Please forgive me if this letter is not written in the proper protocol or using the right terms; I apologise sincerely for any impropriety.
Your Royal Highness,
I am writing with regards to the current political situation. I cannot help but feel that the crisis faced affects every Malaysian at a deeply profound level, including myself in Kuala Lumpur.
I cannot claim to be purely non-partisan in this matter, but hope to engage Your Royal Highness from a perspective that is not politically partisan. I am willing to let my objectivity be judged via the words that follow.
At the very heart of the decision facing Your Royal Highness regarding the Menteri Besar’s request for a dissolution of the state assembly are questions of the health of democracy in Malaysia, an opportunity to better Malaysia’s political culture, and a defining moment for the institution of the royalty.
Your Royal Highness,
Uncertainty appears to dominate politics today. In the last election, eighteen seats were decided with a majority of less than 1,000 votes.
The sudden change in allegiances – in one case in both directions within the space of a week – speak of an unhealthy and confusing culture of expediency. The nature and circumstances under which these defections and redefections appear to be occurring speak not of ideological shifts, but leave space for the man on the street to suspect more sinister and foreboding motives, as well as prevailing suspicions of inducements.
One may be hard pressed to consider a government built amidst such suspicions and aspersions stable and possessed of a convincing mandate to rule.
The Constitution defended for generations by our forebears wisely does not ask Your Royal Highness to choose sides or to decide for the people. Rather, it entrusts rulers such as Your Royal Highness with the task of arbitrating fairly between contending parties, and to safeguard above all the people’s sacrosanct right to choose their own government.
While elections are no small affair and involve considerable expenditure of resources, they also are the determinant of how the resources of the state will be spent for the next five years. Elections and politics, whatever our personal feelings, speak to and affect every aspect of our lives. Without a democratically elected government that convincingly commands the confidence of the rakyat, the sea of aspersions casts, doubts and second guessing can render a government inoperable and cripple its ability to serve the people responsibly.
Should a precedent be set wherein political confusion and murkiness of such unnerving degrees do not necessitate the dissolution of an elected assembly and consultation of the people via fresh elections, state governments throughout the Federation, as well as the Federation itself, will be under constant threat of being hijacked by parties that may attempt to rule without ever justly procuring a proper electoral mandate from the people.
Any party that intends to rule should in every conceivable circumstance demonstrate its ability to win the confidence of the electorate as a single political unit, not as a small collection of individuals who are able to persuade and engineer crossovers using absolutely non-transparent means. While it may be justifiable to demonstrate a loss of confidence in a government via crossovers, achieving the higher mandate to form a new government should always and in all circumstances require the approval, via votes, of the electorate.
If we do not defend this principle, I fear we will fail to defend the very meaning of democracy and its practice on our shores.
Your Royal Highness,
For fifty years, Malaysia has suffered as a non-mature democracy, where political choice was painfully limited and a spectrum of choice reflecting the large ideological variety that forms the Malaysian electorate painfully absent.
In the last few years, Malaysia has taken small but bold steps to maturing into a two-party system – the most rudimentary requirement for a competitive and non-monopolised political system.
The recent emergence of a viable political alternative that has demonstrated a clear ability to provide credible political choices may have been one of the most important milestones in our aspirations to become a developed nation.
As the law does not allow elected representatives to resign their seat and re-contest under a different banner, a complete dissolution is one of the few ways to determine whether a representative’s realignment of political affiliation truly reflects the will of his or her constituents.
We owe at least that much to said constituents – an opportunity to let their voice be heard, no matter how small, poor or suppressed.
The results of a free, fair, transparent and properly conducted election should never be questioned or challenged. Refusing citizens to the ability to make or clarify their choices under such controversial circumstances may send any number of wrong signals.
Without casting any specific aspersions on the cases at hand yet, the precedent that a refusal to dissolve the assembly may amount to encouragement of parties on both sides of the divide to pursue defections at any fiscal or moral cost; it may even be taken by some as reason enough to threaten and otherwise compel in unsavoury manners elected representatives to switch allegiances.
Malaysia’s political culture stands at a defining moment, and Your Royal Highness is in a unique position to determine its course.
Your Royal Highness,
The institution of the royalty has long been highly regarded and played a pivotal, positive role in our nation’s development.
Your Royal Highness and the royal family have built particularly impressive reputations for being fair, just and enlightened.
We would want nothing more than to see the reputation of Your Royal Highness and Your Royal Highness’ family be kept intact and further lauded for being as people-centric as can possibly be imagined.
While being of limited faculty, I have yet to imagine a scenario where giving citizens the ability to once again state exactly what their political preferences are could possibly reflect negatively on Your Royal Highness.
A change of government without such formal consultation with the people may on the other hand beg the question of why such a path was chosen when the other was available and requested for.
The institution of the royalty is entrusted to protect one of the most sacred rights bestowed upon free men and women – the ability to choose their leaders. The concept of a constitutional monarchy was centered on situations precisely akin to the one currently facing us: a situation wherein the ruler can be relied upon to safeguard the tenets of democracy by choosing the path most likely to ensure that the resulting government accurately reflects the choice of the majority.
The citizens of your great state will indubitably be looking to Your Royal Highness’ reputation as a paragon of integrity and as a learned judge to make a decision that is not only legally consistent, but morally sound and compassionately considered. To act wisely at this juncture is to once again prove the worth of the constitutional monarch system and set an example that will be its honour for generations to come.
Your Royal Highness,
I love Malaysia deeply, and want nothing more than to see her prosper and mature into a democracy where the people’s welfare and will continue to be unquestionably paramount; where the most important decisions of the land are made via open consultations and votes, rather than in closed backrooms and under extremely questionable circumstances.
Moving deeper into the 21st century, we can only hope that Malaysia’s political development will grow to be free from money politics and shady deals, so that we do not find ourselves in the now proverbial ‘wrong side of history.’
I thank Your Royal Highness profusely for the kind consideration you have shown, and the wisdom you will undoubtedly display in this crucial decision that lies in your hands. All of Malaysia is watching, and hoping that in the face of attempts to sabotage the democratic process and create power from a source other than that of the people, principle and integrity will prevail.
Yours sincerely,
Nathaniel Tan
[...] jelas.info [...]
I had high hopes that justice would be done to Salleh Abbas during Sultan Azlan Shah’s tenure as the King of Malaysia,i.e circa 1990. My hopes and expectation Now I ***** it is just a repeat.
One must have a heart of stone to reject what you have written here.
Najib is arm-twisting the sultan with his declarations and media grand standing.
The sultan must tell Najib straight in his face,” If you think the people support you, then go back to them.”
If only the HRH Sultan of Perak had read the many aspirations of his people on all the blogs and chatrooms throughout, I am sure he would have been moved.
Too bad there is no platform for us CITIZENS to voice our opinions. Sadly it has been pushed aside during this turmoil.
This difficult decision by HRH of Perak will determine once and for all the neutrality of the Rajas in the country…their role is above politics.
Will the voices of his subjects be more important than politicians or otherwise. Whatever decision HRH made, history will be the judged.
Dear Nat,
You care for Malaysian and its people and we thank you for writing this appeal letter on behalf of all faie minded people to his Majesty the Sultan of Perak. The people wanted change in the last General election and they voted the opposition and not the candidate, if i may say so. As such the mandate now is to go back to the people as a test case. This will stop the DUNs from being bought over/cross over and money politics will then cease.
Hi
I don’t mean to pour cold water on this finely written letter….but it is very demoralising to see the future of an entire state, is dependent on one man’s decision – even if he’s royalty, and the constitution allows for it.
The issue at hand is a grave one, yet an entire nation has been put on hold – as it were – because one man decides to take 1-2 days to “think” about it…..even, if he is royalty…
Something is wrong in the balance of these matters, yet, at the end of the day, it’s the rakyat who suffers.
The unfairness is clearly seen, but the silence & muted inaction thus far from the palace, is prob even more unfair.
In my humble opinion.
Majoriti bukan syarat untuk ambil alih kerajaan Perak
Menurut peruntukan undang-undang, pertukaran kerajaan negeri boleh berlaku melalui tiga cara:-
1. Kerajaan yang sedia ada tidak ada upaya dan menarik diri dengan meminta perkenan Sultan.
2. Melalui ‘undi tidak percaya’ oleh dua per tiga ADUN dalam satu-satu sidang DUN.
Jika cara ini akan digunakan umno Barisan Nasional, ini bermakna mereka perlu menunggu sidang
DUN PERAK yang dijadual paling awal berlangsung bulan April.
3. Melalui pembubaran Kerajaan Negeri oleh seseorang Ketua Kerjaaan Negeri (Menteri Besar) dengan
mendapat perkenan Sultan; Jika cara ini akan digunakan Umno Barisan Nasional, ini bermakna mereka
perlu melalui proses pilihanraya setelah DUN dibubarkan.
http://www.tvpas.com/v1/index.php?option=com_tvpas&id=164
i am quite suprise how popular the Sultan has become, overnightly. But i suppose, you guys need to do that, do u? defending till the hilt. and if thats including any petition or 100k people march (not people the ordinary people, but people among urself and maybe people voting for you) to the Sultan’s palace.
wonder if Tian Chua and gang got atleast 10 parliment members (Taiwan Tourists) last year, would u still be writing to the Sultan? nooooopppeeee..only last week, when nasaruddin lompat to PKR, no one say anything. including u. and nothing about integrity whatsoever. but when ur turn to bite the dust, then all bangin about integrity, unity, bla bla bla.
dont get me wrong. and dun judge me on that nickname. i;ve been using that for quite sometime.
i despise anybody becoming katak. for me, its like breaking promises. how low can a man be, if not doing something like those 3 did? and nasaruddin is a different story. hes worse than katak.
His Royal Highness
The Sultan Perak
Daulat Tuanku
Your Highness decides
The wishes of the people
In the Silver State
The current political developments in Perak
It brings anger to the people in the state
MB Nizar and his band have done a good job
Where the previous BN led government lacked
MB Nizar had introduced many changes
The people here begin to feed on his administration
Like the leasehold land to freehold
Benefitting people of many races
UMNO doesn’t want the state to progress
The leaders want for personal glory
The inducements behind the scenes
It shouldn’t spelt beneficial to the state
Of leaders of questionable stability
One even flips flopping back to UMNO
Citing different reasons just 2 weeks
After joining PKR gone back to his old hideout
He dares not see the sun light
The other 3 Pakatan representatives
They turned independent to smoke our eyes
The greed of something else; of personal needs
How stable can the state government be?
Your Royal Highness
Use your wisdom of caring the state and people
Let them decide once and all
The party to administer the state
Amen brother… Amen!
Nat, You have said it all, so eloquently.
Please, Your Royal Highness, if I have to make profound sacrifices, whatever it may be, so that the people of Perak is given a chance to decide who shall govern the State, I would, gladly with no regrets. .
Please, Your Royal Highness, the people of Perak, and indeed the nation, rest our future and its well being in the wisdom of your decision.
This brings back bitter memory in 1994 when PBS in Sabah won 25 state assembly seats as compared to 23 seats by BN.
The people of Sabah was robbed of their constituitional right when three of” PBS katak ” jumped ( obviously bought over )to BN bringing down the righful elected government of Pairin. It was a dark day then for the people of Sabah.
I call upon the people of Perak not to allow Umno to use this dirty tactics again to take over the state government.
We have heard so much of the fiarnes and wisdom of HRH the sultan of Perak. During this uncertain time ,let’s hope that HRH will stand up to the Umno’s goons and make the right decision for His subjects in Perak and the Malaysians rakyats. Let’s show these goons they do not own Malaysia but the rakyat does.
Enough is enough, we the rakyats are the masters in our own land and we will not be cheated of our rights again by these bunch of crooks.Let’s show these goons who is in control once and for all.
Daulat Tuanku ,we salute for your wise decision.
Well written letter, Nathaniel. But remember, the Sultan is not our only hope in this political crisis.
Do not lose hope for Malaysia because God has a greater plan beyond the obvious cat and mouse game.
Look at the irony of the situation: The unethical cross-over planned by Anwar failed last September.
Today, God may allow the devious cross-over and reverse takeover of the Perak state government by BN for one very good reason: the whole population of Perak and the country will start to see how unethical and undemocratic is the BN in trying to gain power.
Let them win the war of cross-overs but they will definitely lose the battle for the hearts and minds of the voters.
How I wish Anwar Ibrahim never mentioned about party hopping in the first place…
Let’s pick up and work again.
A win-win solution is let the Perak folks decide their fate by fresh state election, which results MUST be honored by both BN and PR till next general election which cannot be changed by future frogs instructive of HRH.Meanwhile, all legal challenges be withdrawned .Have a gentleman fight and the rakyat will respect you. Deep pockets will kill the nation soon.
Hi,
As much as I put my hopes alive, that Sultan Azlan will will live to his name and spark the fuse a better democracy for Malaysia, I’m convinced of a Power even greater than the Sultan, a God as I understand HIM. May His wise wisdom prevail over the Sultan and drag this country away from the misery of the evil tormentors and persecutors.
JOHN B
Let UMNO be the govt of rejects. Come 13th GE we will vote them out…
Don’t worry my fellow M’sians in Perak. UMNO can buy FROGS of the lowest species but can’t buy your heart of gold.
drMpower,
first, Anwar had promised to call for snap elections to confirm mandate on a change in Government if it took place – and yes, we would all have wanted free and fair elections to confirm the change. And we would have got it – more and more are getting fed up with the corruption, cronyism and greed of BN.
second, the Bota rep hopping did not result in the change in state government or even an increase to a 2/3 majority govern – it was inconsequential in the bigger picture, except for a pyscological set back for BN who was targetting to hijack democracy with ‘kataks’.
But by your argument, if Anwar now gets BN reps to switch and form a new government, we gather that you will be happy for the smooth transition of power without fresh elections? Be careful you’re not setting a precedent you’re not willing to live with.
Anyway, the back lash on this is going to be really bad – people are not stupid to fall for the spin mongering of editors and cyber troopers like yourself.
People’s Alliance will prevail and become stronger than before!!
pbs jump to bn..
who actually was the one who lobbied for the pbs to join bn?
yep…the anwar “hopping” ibrahim…the HOPPING MASTER!!
nat, thanks for that well pieced letter. but i would have to agree with one of the earlier posts that the sultan has been arm-twisted by Najib (and if i may add, bagged and beaten into submission too). Let BN play dirty and ’steal’ two sex-scandal tainted assemblymen. as Ku-Li says, it’ll only make UMNO/BN weaker. the people will throw these guys out in the next election.
[...] Nathaniel Tan, on the other hand, has written an open letter to the Sultan of Perak, stating that a complete dissolution of the state assembly and holding fresh [...]
This a lawless country. They do what they like and police are there to carry out orders regardless if what they do is in conformity with the law. For instance, who gave then the right to cordon off the state secretariat?
Anyway I have never placed high hopes in the Rulers.
Dear Datuk Anwar,
Since the request for dissolution was not granted, hence depriving Pakatan bringing the issue back to the people, it does not mean that you can not go back to the people for their show of support for Pakatan.
All you need to do is to get one of your Assemblyman to resign to force a by-election.
The people can then have the opportunity to voice their displeasure or “liking” towards BN through the ballot box. The result will tell who is wanted in Perak.
Give this a thought, Datuk.
Chris Kwan.
Sabah.
Indeed it is a very sad day, not just for Perak, but for all of us here in Malaysia. There is a cosmic law of sowing and reaping. It looks like Anwar has now reaped what he sowed so very long ago when he himself caused this very same scenario in East Malaysia. It has now come back to haunt him and now the people are suffering. This is the burden of leadership. What leaders do affect so many others. Rest assured there will also be a time of reaping for Najib and others as well. No one can escape this law. What we do and say always comes back to either haunt us or bless us. My hopes are still pinned on PR as I believe it is, at this point the better alternative, however, Anwar needs remember that the ends do not justify the means. Otherwise he is just sowing more heartache to come. I hope he will now see the wisdom of never accepting crossovers without them first resigning their posts and proving their loyalty over time. This will stop those who are only interested in self-advancement from holding Malaysia hostage. Only those truly interested in seeing a better Malaysia will join.
[...] Nathaniel Tan, Pahlawan Volunteers and The Undersigned. [...]
To add more analysis to Netizen’s comments about the controversy over party hopping, let us be clear about three things:
1. If party hopping followed by snap elections is justified as an unjust means to a fair end, then there will be no end to party hopping, what more when vast amount of money is offered under the table. (Anwar, pls take note, you are at an economic disadvantage in this respect).
2. Now that both BN (sin by commission) and PKR (sin by temptation) have created this political mess, it is the honourable thing for both Anwar/PKR leaders and Najib to outlaw party hopping. But first, to regain his credibility with the voters, Najib should call a snap election soon in Perak to make amends for the unfairness with which the Perak people are subjected to. That way, he will doing what Anwar actually promised, cross over and give back the mandate to the electorate.
3. The arena of politics is often dirty and devoid of ethics. Whoever has the upper hand is the usually the one who has a better leverage with the judges/rulers of the land. The only medicine to restore the quality of political struggle is through sound intelligent debate among the voters, bloggers, media, politicians, etc.
4. When almost all the civil rights activists and bloggers gave a green light to Anwar’s cross-over strategy without questioning the ethics of doing so, they have reaped what they have sowed. So the blame for Perak’s crisis should be shared with the followers.
Look, to add more analysis to Netizen’s comments about party hopping, let us be clear about a few things:
1. If party hopping followed by snap elections is justified as an unjust means to a fair end, then there will be no end to party hopping, what more when vast amount of money is offered under the table. (Anwar, pls take note, you are at an economic disadvantage in this respect).
2. Now that both BN (sin by commission) and PKR (sin by temptation) have created this political mess, it is the honourable thing for both Anwar/PKR leaders and Najib to outlaw party hopping.
But first, to regain his credibility with the voters, Najib should call a snap election soon in Perak to make amends for the unfairness with which the Perak people are subjected to. That way, he will doing what Anwar actually promised, cross over and give back the mandate to the electorate.
3. Politics is often dirty and devoid of ethics. But the spectators, i.e voters have a role to play. They can either walk out in protest or continue watching the drama. If the civil rights activists and bloggers had debated thoroughly the issue of cross-overs, they would have seen its dangers, both ethical and political.
So the blame for the current Perak crisis should be shared with Malaysia’s intellectuals and silent citizens.
Pls back to reality… rakyat will taliate…BN government will use ISA… Sultan Perak will presume nothing happened on streets…
Let’s the epic begin and teach BN & UMNO a big lesson…don’t try to mess with Rakyat…
The 3 DUN should call for fresh election as the 3 assembly person already resigned. It shall not be the EC or Sultan to question its legality.
Please let the RAKYAT decide
It’s high time we separate the votes that represent and determine who is in power in each constituency with the people elected as MP or assemblyman.
Right now, the elected man is the vote …so when he jump ship is like the whole constituency also change but the case may not be so.
It’s time to separate VOTES from the PEOPLE.
UMNO leaders were condemning DSAI when he announced plans to take over the Federal Government on Sep 16 ‘08. Looks like the same unscrupulous UMNO leaders are doing the same thing they condemn DSAI earlier. What hypocrites are these UMNO leaders ! We despise such government.
As for those hopping DUNs who behave like frogs. These are the scums of the society and would be rejected by the rakyat. We have no respect for these pariahs. We would like to face these pariahs, spit on them and tell them face to face. Just wait.
As for the Perak Sultan, it is very unfortunate that from a well respected Sultan, he has become the opposite to the rakyat within a day in denying his very own rakyat to elect a government of their choice. Sad to say, for many of his subjects, that respect for him has gone down the drain.
Finally for DSAI, you have shot yourself on your foot ! A government is elected by the people, not thru party hopping. We want you to stop encouraging and enticing BN DUNs to do this party hopping act. Take over the government through legitimate means.
As for many of us, common citizen, we will definitely vote out an unscrupulous government in the next election. Mark our words !
[...] February 8, 2009 at 6:56 am (政经文教 （Politic）, 社会 （Society）) (霹雳州政局, Nathaniel Tan) 中文译版：转载自AirKosong 原文出处：An Open Letter to the Sultan: A plea to defend the voice of the people [...]
honestly, i dun support either bn or pakatan rakyat. I jus want a any governent who really cares about us, MALAYSIANS. Not malay, not chinese, not indian, but MALAYSIANS. We are one country. But i don’t see we are really one country.
One fact, different state has got different parties won the election. Is the people who choose the leader, not the government choose the leader. When BN won in one state, is bcoz ppl trust the BN has done well at the state, in other words, as Pakatan Rakyat won in one state, means, they have been doing well in the state.
Why this happens, because we ppl want what is good for us, but not for corruption. So stop “RASUAH”.
Anyone jumping from one side, simply, you can pull a leader down from wht he’s doing. Why not get another election, let the ppl choose wht they want, rather than a Sultan giving the permission to fired someone, just because of the “vote”? Well, i don’t think it looks like a vote either.
Citizens not happy, and Foreigners are reading a joke, or watching some funny movie here.
Wake Up, Malaysia. This is not about the selfishness, this is about understanding the citizens. Why Obama can be the president of US. But, why can’t we have an “Obama” here? We are Malaysians, not me, not you, not those stupid selfishness. Wake Up, and stop foreigners laughing at us.
But i guess, “We” never grow up.
Simple, all we want, is a government who can cares us, understand us, and bring the best to the citizen. BN, Rockets, PAS… Whatever! Who cares….!
We are MALAYSIANS! That’s for sure!
[...] 原英文版： http://jelas.info/2009/02/06/an-open-letter-to-the-sultan-a-plea-to-defend-the-voice-of-the-people/ [...]