Allow royalty to join politics officially so they can be criticised - Mahfuz
PARLIAMENT | An opposition MP today suggested that members of the royal families are given the option to join politics, and thus allow them to be criticised openly like any other politician.
Mahfuz Omar (Pakatan Harapan-Pokok Sena) said there are perceptions among the public that certain royal figures in the country already have political inclinations.
This, he added, could...
PARLIAMENT | An opposition MP today suggested that members of the royal families are given the option to join politics, and thus allow them to be criticised openly like any other politician.
Mahfuz Omar (Pakatan Harapan-Pokok Sena) said there are perceptions among the public that certain royal figures in the country already have political inclinations.
This, Mahfuz (above) added, could be seen from statements that some members of royal families had made in the past, which showed the side they favour.
“My question is that when there is such perception on royal family members of having political slant, why not give the king power, with the agreement of the Council of Malay Rulers, to allow any members of royal families who are interested in politics to join politics officially.
“By doing this, it can prevent critics who speak against the royalty (who have political preference) from being seen as criticising the royal institution, and end up having legal action taken against them because of laws that forbid the royals from being criticised,” he said.
Mahfuz made the suggestion when debating a government motion to amend Article 19 of the Federal Constitution to exclude royalty from being registered voters.
The proposed amendment aimed at inserting a clause that gives the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the power to exclude any member of the royal families, sultan, their wife and heir, and state governors, from the country’s electoral rolls.
“It would make it easier for the people to face them politically, so when we criticise them, we are not criticising or advising them as a member of the royal family, but as a politician,” said Mahfuz.
Meanwhile, during the debate session, another parliamentarian raised a question to de facto law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on the constitutionality of the proposal to exclude royals from voting.
Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) said while he understands the spirit of the proposal, there is a concern on whether the exclusion is impinging the right of royalty as Malaysian citizens to vote in elections.
“My question is, if this amendment is passed, does it mean that the rights of our rulers, and their wives, and other members of the royal families are taken away?” he said.
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