Even if one disagrees with the sentiments expressed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in his speech opening the current session of Parliament, we should not mistake the words for His Majesty's own feelings.
As a constitutional monarch, the King is not allowed to express his own thoughts or feelings when reading what is called "the speech from the throne". Our monarchy is modelled upon the British constitution, where the speech is prepared by the government of the day and merely sets out what the government intends to do in the lifetime of parliament's current session. His Majesty is not allowed to provide any input, nor to digress, from the speech as presented to him by the government.
The only occasion when His Majesty is allowed to give his own views is during the weekly audience with the prime minister, when the King may use his prerogatives "to advise, to warn and to encourage" the government of the day. Nevertheless, the weekly audience is a confidential occasion, not announced or publicised.
We may disagree with the King's speech, but the words were never his own. Our constitution binds the King-in-Parliament to act merely as the mouthpiece of the government. The King should neither be applauded, nor criticised, for merely announcing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's plan for his (apparently near expiry-date) government.
By criticising the King's speech, we are falling into the government's trap. The SAR debacle should be blamed squarely on the shoulders of the prime minister and not on any other person, not even the King. Criticising the King's speech distracts from the real issues - abuse of basic human rights to education of choice, freedom of choice for parents, responsibility by the government to fund educational institutions, proper use of taxpayers money, standards in religious education, etc.
If the opposition parties would like the King to speak differently, they have two choices. one, get their act together, form a government and write a new speech for the King. Secondly, argue for a new, more relevant constitution that allocates responsibility totally to the executive branch of government, while giving the King and his brother rulers the role of checking-and-balancing the government of the day.
Note: While Adlan Benan Omar is a member of Keadilan's supreme council, the above letter was written in his private capacity
