All nine are Malay hereditary rulers with constitutionally defined role responsibility to preserve Malay culture and protect Islam; as they are heads of the religion in each of the nine states. While the constitution calls them Malays; they all have different ethnic backgrounds and origins from elsewhere. I am no historian and therefore will not venture to explain.

But, my tongue in cheek question: Is closing one eye to moral wrong-doing also one aspect of this Malay culture which they seek to equally preserve? How can these Malay rulers, who are our public representatives of Islam, ignore the human rights of non-Muslims as equal citizens?

Or, in real and objective terms, as constitutionally defined monarchs are they not equally responsible to protect and preserve rights and values of all citizens and their equally protected faith-systems?