The prime minister's statement that royalty should not be "dragged into politics" makes little sense. Although the Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not hold any real executive, legislative or judicial power, His Majesty is at the apex of government and is thus involved in the politics, i.e. governing of the country.

What the Agong does not have is the right to have political affiliations since, as the constitutional monarch of a parliamentary democracy, His Majesty's role is to be the chief of state of a country with a democratically-elected government. So whichever party that will command a majority in Parliament will be invited to form His Majesty's government. The Agong thus has the right to ensure that His Majesty's government is the government of choice of the majority of voters in the country.

So when issues like (i) the questionable independence of the Election Commission, (ii) gerrymandering, (iii) blackout of differing political views in mainstream media, (iv) misuse of governmental resources by political parties for non-governmental affairs, and (v) electoral fraud, undermine the legitimacy of election results and thus dilute the electorate's power to have its voice heard through the ballot box, the electorate will have to express its concern directly to the Agong over the full legitimacy of His Majesty's government.

It was right that the Agong issued a statement that His Majesty did not endorse the Bersih march since it was partly supported by political parties. Any endorsement would have implied political affiliations. However, there is nothing unconstitutional as regards to His Majesty lending an ear to a significant segment of the electorate who are suggesting to His Majesty ways of improving the legitimacy of His Majesty's next government.

On another note, although I lack the knowledge whether it was correct etiquette for the Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja to have issued the statement on the Agong's behalf, I believe the question of the Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja being an Umno member does not arise since he is eligible to vote and is thus entitled to have political affiliations.

The main concern should be over the issue of students in higher education and also civil servants who are eligible to vote yet stifled from expressing their political views and affiliations, especially if those views and affiliations are associated with political parties in the opposition.