by Ganesh Sahathevan
The story below has been posted on Facebook with a "Please Cicrculate".
Under the headline "New King to unite Malaysians and stop race, and religious disputes" it is essentially a series of comments by one Norman Fernandez, and purports to be a CV of the Sultan of Johor, with regards the election of Malaysia's next Agong (King).
The election will be conducted by the Council of Rulers, the nine sultans of the Malay states, including the Sultan Of Johor at some point towards te end of this year when the current AGong's term experies. By tradition and protocol the country is informed of their decision by the Keeper Of The Rulers' Seal, as and when they see fit.
To Be Read With
New King to unite Malaysians and stop race, and religious disputes
The Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, to be King, is a dynamic and proactive leader, according to lawyer, columnist and political observer Norman Fernandez.
Under Malaysia's unique rotational system, Sultan Johor is slated to be the next Agong, when the present Agong, the Sultan of Pahang, leaves office at the end of 2023.
The Rulers are expected to choose the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Oct 27 and will likely uphold the rotation system of electing the new King from among the nine brother Rulers.
“His Royal Highness ( HRH ) will be different. HRH is unlikely to be an Agong who will not be in the Istana twiddling his thumbs, watching politicians at loggerheads and putting their self-interest above the nation’s and people’s interest. Johoreans have long known HRH to know that he is one person you do not mess about with. HRH will openly rebuke any leader should they cross the red lines. HRH brooks no nonsense from anyone trying to cause a diversion, disunity, or Fernandez added, is the home of Bangsa Johor, which practices the “Muafakat Johor” concept. It is about mutual tolerance and respect among all the subjects of HRH. “Voices of extremism are unheard in Johor, and any attempts to sow the seeds of extremism are nipped in the bud swiftly, with HRH often being the first. That is why when a laundromat started a “Muslim only” he was immediately rebuked, and that was enough of a warning for the owner to stop his apartheid business concept.”
A few of the controversies the Sultan resolved immediately are:
- Jesus Convent Johor Bahru, where he defused and effectively resolved the controversy. “Nobody must be left out of any public programme because of race or religion,” the Sultan declared.
- He openly expressed his disappointment over the poor condition of buildings, maintenance, and cleanliness of low-cost flats in the state.
- The Sultan warned politicians not to defy the directive from Rulers to stop using mosques and surau as political platforms or to attempt to undermine the royal institution. He said certain politicians had crossed the line.
- HRH called on politicians to “Focus your attention on resolving the people’s burdens, such as the cost of living, meeting daily needs, their struggles to pay their household bills and economic concerns.”
- The Sultan questioned them: “What are you doing to alleviate yearly flood problems? Tell us what you are going to do about it?
- Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar also criticised the public's growing sense of complacency and lackadaisical attitude towards COVID-19 standard operating procedures.
- He has called for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme to be improved in policy, incentives and benefits to make it less burdensome.
Fernandez added: “That is why, when there was talk about attempts to bring down elected state governments elsewhere, HRH warned the elected Johor state assemblymen not to cause any instability in Johor and warned that he would not hesitate to dissolve the Assembly.
“Thus, with HRH as the Agong (God willing), there is a greater likelihood that it will start an era of stability without the constant demonic zeal of politicians playing one-up brinkmanship and not allowing the elected federal government to function effectively. Even the Ministers will certainly come under the watchful eyes and have to be on their toes. HRH will expect all the lawmakers and the Ministers (and all politicians) to put the nation’s and peoples’ interests first. All will have to engage their brains before opening their mouth.”
“HRH will certainly work along well with PMX Anwar Ibrahim. I am looking forward to January 2024,” Fernandez added.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, associate professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns going undercover as a beggar, security guard, blind man, disabled salesman and Member of Parliament.
M. Krishnamoorthy is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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