tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post1627439684565975539..comments2024-03-29T13:53:27.554+08:00Comments on KTemoc Konsiders ........: Rulers no 'Silver Bullet'KTemochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09951253039042572381noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-67272450613063478302007-09-24T22:23:00.000+08:002007-09-24T22:23:00.000+08:00I agree that Malaysia lacks a vibrant democracy bu...I agree that Malaysia lacks a vibrant democracy but to say that democracy is dead is a different thing altogether and may be a bit too exaggerated. The fact of gross pork barrelling in Ijok and various recent by-elections was indicative of the ruling party being still fearful of the ballot box.<BR/><BR/>If, wait, let me correct that - <B>as</B> the judiciary in the person of the CJ has been tainted by the Lingam tape, let's sort him out rather than rush into precipitatious use of the Agong's power to dismiss the government - and then, on what constitutional grounds?<BR/><BR/>Much as there have been egging-ons by certain quarters, I don't believe the Agong's limited power was ever meant for that, and I respectfully disagree with your example of the Australian 1975 constitutional crisis (caused by the GG John Kerr rather than the Whitlam govt) to illustrate the path for Malaysia.<BR/><BR/>Indeed where is the constitutional crisis here? Yes, there are rampant corruption, non transparency and non accountability, but these are poor piss-poor conduct of governance by a govt voted into power by the majority of Malaysians. We just have to suck on our foolish choice.<BR/><BR/>Just because a couple of opposition parties have been pushing for the use of the Monarch's limited power to dismiss AAB's party, I do not believe that should be done, not only because there is no constitutional crisis, but that those opposiiton parties hardly represent majority will.<BR/><BR/>Alas, much as we hate the UMNO-led govt, we need to be mindful that democracy can be an ass at times - yes, we voted them in. But if we ourselves talk a lot and aloud about democracy and then when it suits us, we overthrow the process, what would that make us?<BR/><BR/>We (the majority of Malaysian) voted the BN in, and they failed to perform, then let's vote them out. It is the only democratic avenue.<BR/><BR/>I am as leery of people who propose 'clever' non-democratic actions as I am of the UMNO-led govt. Let's have a minimum standard or we're no better than those we condemn.KTemochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09951253039042572381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-31907779830280058852007-09-24T21:54:00.000+08:002007-09-24T21:54:00.000+08:00KtemocDemocracy in Malaysia for all intent and pur...Ktemoc<BR/><BR/>Democracy in Malaysia for all intent and purpose is dead. It is a shell with no substance.<BR/><BR/>Democracy is founded on the separation of powers of the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary.<BR/><BR/>It is not the case in Malaysia. Furthermore the Fourth Estate is the slave of the Executive since it is owned by the Executive.<BR/><BR/>Any view that Malaysia is a vibrant democracy is rubbish.<BR/><BR/>Malaysia, as one blogger commented, is more like a fascist state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-33837515735103492222007-09-24T21:50:00.000+08:002007-09-24T21:50:00.000+08:00KtemocThe point I want to raise is that it can be ...Ktemoc<BR/><BR/>The point I want to raise is that it can be done. That is, when push comes to shove, the monarchy would act as it sees fit, rightly or wrongly from others, or in hindsight.<BR/><BR/>The reasons and the rationale are irrelevant, because when the monarchy decides to act, against the convention, and as it is allowed in its narrow interpretation in the Constitution, it is done.<BR/><BR/>So, the debate that the Ruler cannot trigger an action that is seen as a constitutional crisis does not arise. Whether it SHOULD OR NOT IS A MATTER OF DEBATE.<BR/><BR/>Usually, the monarcy will only intervene if there is already a constitutional crisis developing, like the BLOCKING OF THE SUPPLY BILL in Australia.<BR/><BR/>In Malaysia's case, the constitutional crisis was triggered by the actions of the Chief Justice.<BR/><BR/>It is rarely the case that the genesis of a constitutional crisis comes from the monarchy in recent times.<BR/><BR/>The judgment call is from the Council of Rulers whether its action will deteriorate an already bad situation.<BR/><BR/>I still hold that it is still within the constitutional right of Malaysians as subjects of the rulers to seek their intervention and the Council of Rulers are still operating within the constitution should they decide to intervene.<BR/><BR/>After all, the Council of Rulers is a creature of the Constitution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-60783961382321660982007-09-24T15:49:00.000+08:002007-09-24T15:49:00.000+08:00Thanks frank,but you didn't mention the circumstan...Thanks frank,<BR/><BR/>but you didn't mention the circumstances leading to that - namely the Supply Bill was blocked by the opposition dominated Senate in an attempt to force the Whitlam govt to call for an election. Whitlam refused to budge to the Senate' demand and the day to day government running (its financial obligations) was jeopardised due to the Budget being not passed.<BR/><BR/>That the Senate became opposition dominated was due to two Labour Senators "leaving" the Senate (one died and one became a judge). Two non-Labour State govts refused to replace the two Senators with new Labour candidates but instead with candidates who opposed PM Gough Whitlam. The scandalous actions by the non-Labour State Premiers went against convention under which a Senator who dies or resigns mid-term is replaced with a nominee from the former Senator's political party.<BR/><BR/>The GG, John Kerr was badly advised by the CJ of the Australian High Court, Garfield Barwick, a former minister of the Conservative Party and therefore hardly impartial. His sacking of the PM was Australia's most famous (or infamous) constitutional crisis.<BR/><BR/>One of Australia's most respected journalists Paul Kelly has written several of books considered to be the most accurate and comprehensive account of the crisis. His latest one is "November 1975". Kelly points out the flaws in the Australian constitutional system that made it possible, but he puts the majority of the blame on GG John Kerr for doing little to encourage a negotiated solution to the crisis.<BR/><BR/>If we keep egging the Rulers or Agong to dismiss a democratically elected PM AAB, who doesn't even face the Australian situation of a blocked Supply Bill that triggered the sacking of the Gough Whitlam govt, we would certainly be precipitating (and responsible for) a constitutional crisis.<BR/><BR/>Much as we may dislike or even hate the AAB govt, they were elected by the majority of the Malaysian people. We cannot precipitate a constitutional crisis (illegal sacking of a duly elected govt) because of sh*t stirring "out there" - are these people representative of the majority of voters? If not, tough! But indeed if the majority of Malaysians want AAB and company out then there is the ballot box.KTemochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09951253039042572381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-71376155673096896652007-09-24T15:29:00.000+08:002007-09-24T15:29:00.000+08:00Kay Tee said, "Thus I stand by my views that the B...Kay Tee said, "Thus I stand by my views that the BN’s Triad must be neutralized through the ballot box."<BR/><BR/>He who controls the ballot box is the Election Commission, and EC is under the control of the BN. <BR/><BR/>The ballot box is already neutralized by the BN... the BN is one step ahead of you. <BR/><BR/>Think of a viable alternative, please. Think OUTSIDE the ballot box for once.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-59885202634639079362007-09-24T14:55:00.000+08:002007-09-24T14:55:00.000+08:00A lesson from Australian experience on Constitutio...A lesson from Australian experience on Constitutional Crisis.<BR/><BR/>In 1975, the Governor-General, a rep of the Queen of Australia ( ie the monarchy), sacked the Prime Minister and appointed the Leader of the Opposition to form GovtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-69769046296196441802007-09-24T07:26:00.000+08:002007-09-24T07:26:00.000+08:00KTThere is no way the royalty can do a thing about...KT<BR/>There is no way the royalty can do a thing about this country even if they want to. The Agong will be as reluctant since his tenure in office is supposed to be a honeymoon period. It would be too taxing for him to alter the flow of water from its original course. He will be faced with a multitude of problems and may not even get his next month allowance if he were to rock the boat.<BR/>Such drastic changes can only happen if there is a Coup D'etat by an army general like what happened in Thailand. Otherwise it will be a futile excercise. The General in the army is only loyal to master that pays his salary.<BR/>The ballot box wont be able to change things much either since the ruling party is so powerful with a warchest in the billions from the rip off of the country's coffer.<BR/>Any attempt at informing the Agong of his constitutional powers will be construed as a form of instigation can only lead to the application of the draconian ISA on the purported instigator.Pak Zawihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10811910594190129145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-81808890209752628072007-09-23T22:19:00.000+08:002007-09-23T22:19:00.000+08:00fine if the 4 estates are functioning. but none ar...fine if the 4 estates are functioning. but none are as every estate is subservient to the executive either by way of intimidation or abuse of laws such as OSA to serve their ends. against this background, like you said short of a memali, the royalty will have to play their role now to rehabilitate and allow the 4 estates to function again. i see no other option coz the ballot box will only work if the institutions are functioning as they should have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-62231556954289269242007-09-23T18:22:00.000+08:002007-09-23T18:22:00.000+08:00Unfortunately, apart from notable exceptions such ...Unfortunately, apart from notable exceptions such as Raja Nazrin and the Sultan of Selangor, many of our Royal Houses are themselves embroiled in the excesses of the ruling regime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11109306.post-81143444252170916562007-09-23T15:13:00.000+08:002007-09-23T15:13:00.000+08:00Democracy, however imperfect it may seem to be, is...Democracy, however imperfect it may seem to be, is still the best form of government. Democracy means that it should be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. <BR/><BR/>In democracy, there is supposed to be a separation of powers , in order to have a check and balance, and to ensure that the people's powers remain supreme.<BR/><BR/>And the 3 pillars of democracy, namely the executive, the legislative and the judiciary,can be augmented with a fourth pillar which is the press, and in this era of the internet, includes the blogs.<BR/><BR/>The rulers may have a role to play to ensure that these pillars function independently as depicted in the Constitution. Their role is more a supervisory one.<BR/><BR/>It is the people who is the boss of the country, and the people who should push for reform and to ensure that good governance prevails.<BR/><BR/>The people can do so by means of votes of course and also by means of influencing public opinion. <BR/><BR/>The press has been the traditional tool for influencing public opinion, but unfortunately, the press can be easily controlled and manupulated. So the blogs have become increasing important as a tool for forming and influencing opinion.<BR/><BR/>More people should take up blogging, but blog with your conscience. Do not oppose for the sake of opposing. Blog also with responsibility.Do not create hatred among the people.It should eb used to preach good governance, equality, fairness, unity and universal rights and values.It can also be used to exposed incompetency, corrupt practises and abuse in power.<BR/><BR/>It is one of the means to ensure the supremacy of the people.<BR/><BR/>Sword is mighty, pen is mightier than sword; but mark my words, blogs are going to be mightier than all these.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com