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For military chief, two plus two equals five

YOURSAY ‘Not the military too? Is there anyone left with brains?’

 

'Insulting royals a bid to weaken military itself'

                     

Tholu: If we were to take the armed forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin’s words at face value, then any condemnation or criticism against Parliament; against the executive and the judiciary would be an “attempt” to weaken the armed forces itself.

                                               

This is because our king is the head of all these three branches of the government. All those who have been hauled up by the police to face charges of sedition recently, therefore, could be said to have attempted to weaken the armed forces and should have instead been taken action by the armed forces, going by the army chief’s warning that, “members of the armed forces would never take insults against the Malay rulers lightly.” (whatever it means - firing squads perhaps?).

 

I am not advocating any act of disrespect or insolence against our rulers, but come on Zulkifeli, why are you entangling and submitting yourself to the unscrupulous and unethical political ploys of the government when your loyalty should be only to the king and his subjects.

 

Quigonbond: Not the military too? Is there anyone left with brains?

 

Anything said about curtailing the power of rulers, even when it is apparent they are abusing their privileges, is seen as an attack to weaken the institution.

 

How come such fear did not arise during the height of Mahathirism? This has nothing to do with ruler protection. It's all Umno politics. And it's sad the military is dragged into it too.

 

It gives rise to question whether if Pakatan Rakyat ever win federal power, the military will prevent them from taking office in a coup.

 

Gerard Lourdesamy: And what does the Armed Forces propose to do in the face of such insults and insinuations - stage a coup such as in Thailand?

 

The armed forces are nominally loyal to the sovereign but operational command lies with the defence minister. It is not the business of the armed forces to get involved in matters that concern the civilian government.

 

Seditious statements are under the purview of the police and the public prosecutor and it is the home minister who answers to Parliament on such issues.

 

The armed forces must remain apolitical and neutral in discharging their duties. That is why technically they are not classified as civil servants, just like the judges and members of parliament.

 

Confine yourself to defending the country from external threats. Internal security and public order is under the purview of the police. Apart from a state of national emergency or disaster, the armed forces have no role to play in internal security matters.

 

Malaccan: Why the need to emotionalise and at the same time deprofessionalise the military? Perhaps Zulkifeli seeks to incite certain quarters.

 

The general has previously done the same and is obviously unfit for his position to head a professional and important national institution. More so, one with guns.

 

These are dangerous times when the head of the military doesn't have the mettle and the calmness of mind and instead act like a schoolboy out to have his way.

 

Slumdog: I think Zulkifeli is the one that urgently needs a psychiatric evaluation. To conclude that insinuations or insults made against the royal institutions is an attempt to weaken the military is preposterous.

                                                           

He must have parked his brains in neutral. Umno-supporting misfits go to extreme lengths to prove they are stupid, inept and unfit to hold high office. They do this gladly without any shame for what they have said. 

 

Vijay47: Zulkifeli, I don't expect you to know better but you have got your statement backwards. The usual allegation is that an attack on the lesser is tantamount to an attack on the greater. 

 

But you claim that any insinuation on royalty is an attempt to weaken the armed forces. So since when did the forces become superior to the Agong?

 

But from your performance at the earlier MH370 press conferences, nobody would be surprised at you.

 

Mushiro: “Therefore, members of the armed forces would never take insults against the  Malay rulers lightly,” said Zulkifeli.

 

When Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was the Agong, Terengganu Umno put up posters calling Tuanku "natang" . I am not from Terengganu and yet I felt very bad for His Majesty.

 

How come the armed forces allowed this great insult to the Terengganu sultan and the Agong by Umno?

 

Besides the MH370 radar fiasco and the Lahad Datu intruders, even our overpriced Scorpene submarines failed to take part in the search operation for MH370. It is better Zulkifeli concentrate on these failures then to venture into Selangor politics.

 

David Dass: I do not think that anyone in his right mind would want to insult a ruler. I think that most Malaysians respect the rulers and understand and accept the constitutional position of the rulers.

 

The problem arises because the rulers have certain legal duties or powers. The appointment of a chief minister, the dissolution of the state assembly or parliament are some of these powers.

 

The question arises as to whether the exercise of such power can be the subject of legal challenge. This question must be answered by our courts.

 

Rulers enjoy legal immunity. The question also arises as to whether the exercise by the ruler of his constitutional or legal duty is also subject to legal immunity.

 

I do not think that it is helpful for the chief of the armed forces to issue such a statement. The police and the Attorney-General's Chambers are quite capable of looking after anyone who breaches the law. We do not need the army to deal with such issues.

 

Ronald: The military is part of the Malaysian civil service. The chief of armed forces reports to the chief secretary of the Malaysian government.

 

Like all civil servants, the military has no business to comment on politics. They are to confine themselves to the barracks and their role is protecting the country from external forces. Period.

 

Tupaibesi: Fighter jet engines goes missing, submarine that does not sink, instant noodles that apparently cost a bomb... all this is not traitorous, I presume. Oh yes, voting within the armed services very well organised, too.


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