I bid farewell to the sultan of Terengganu as Agong and welcome the sultan of Kedah, whose state I originate from. Crowned for the second time, he said in his first address:

‘The Agong is the umbrella (over) the people and the people (are) the pillars of the Agong. The Agong’s greatest role is to ensure there will be no cruelty, and destruction, to the people and to the country. In a constitutional monarchy system, the Agong is the arbitrator, the balancing power so that there will be peace, stability and public order.’

To me it is delightful that we have an Agong who is of the founding generation of this nation – he was born before the independence of Malaya in 1957, and before the formation Malaysia in 1963. It is also historic that the founding prime minister also originated from Kedah and was a member of its royal family.

Starting with reflections on the May 13 riots in 1969, the Agong said the nation should never reach such lows again. He noted that, while we are more united now, “this can further be improved if all parties put the nation’s interest first. Sometimes politicians take the easy way out to remain popular by playing up religious and racial issues”.

He added that Abdul Razak Hussein was premier at his first coronation, and that he is delighted that Razak’s son is premier at his second.

After 54 years, he said, “the country has reached a mature age and therefore the leaders and people should also show maturity in their actions”. Wise words.

I have been trained to make a distinction between the institution and the person. Therefore, I always support all the institutions under our constitutional system of governance, even if I do not agree with the incumbents over particular and specific issues.

Therefore, premised upon the royal address, I say, Daulat Tuanku, or that I will salute this institution and person as the Agong. I agree fully with Tuanku’s problem definition, about our need for national unity above all else and the requisite preservation of the national and public interest.

If the people are pillars of this institution and the Agong is the symbolic yellow umbrella of protection and preservation of the people’s interests, what and how do we define the national and public interest? And, what correspondingly is ‘good governance’ of this nation we call home?

I like most Tuanku’s final sentence of his organisational or institutional statement: ‘In a constitutional monarchy system, the Agong is the arbitrator, the balancing power so that there will be peace, stability and public order.’

In this one sentence you have clarified, to me at least, that you are the Agong of 1Bangsa Malaysia; the united federation of our nation-state. You are not an ordinary citizen and therefore you cannot and should not take sides with partisan groups, even if they are pillars to uphold the institution of the monarchy.

Today, after 46 years of the Malaysian federation, we have many different pillars in how we are organised to give you that support.

We are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual, etc, and therefore also multicultural and complex in terms of governance.

We have the pillars of the Malay states. We have the pillars of race and ethnicity, but also defined by the pillars of constitutionality.

Some pillar definitions are very local and contextual like the concept of a bumiputera versus Malay – one is from the constitution and the other is not.

We have different pillars of historicity, depending on which history books one reads. Therefore we have official history and now unofficial history books being written by civil society and academics.

Become a 3G Agong

But, why do I rejoice and say Daulat Tuanku? It is because you are older than most of us and therefore you, almost by definition, are wiser than most of us, whether we are in opposition or with the federal or state governments.

Therefore, also, when you say that the Agong is the arbitrator and a factor for balancing power, it gives me confidence to me that at least that for the next five years the nation is in good hands and abuse of power will be balanced.

Another important point you make, is that you have made the national interest your priority. Tuanku, please repeat this to all national institutions whether the police, the armed forces, the judiciary, the legislature or the executive. Please remind them that that they serve under the pleasure of the Agong for the good of the rakyat, and that is what ‘saya yang menurut perintah’ truly means. It may not be how it is interpreted today!

It should mean exactly the same as it does within the British tradition. The public services, and all arms of governance, serve the national interest under the jurisdiction of the monarch for peace, stability and public order – which is the public interest defined.

No police chief can and should therefore ever raise his hand to punch someone because the Agong protects the weaker person always. Neither can the attorney-general collude with or manipulate the judiciary in any unacceptable way, like falsely charging a police officer with wrongdoing, which is then proven false. Worse, the perpetrators get away after destroying another’s life and reputation.

Tuanku, the nation needs the protection of a wise Agong who will not be manipulated by petty and childish politics of the partisan kind, whether we call it red, blue, green or pink. 

Speaking for Bersih 2.0, let me say that Pak Samad, our National Literary Laureate would not have marched if the national interest was not affected. He, like you, has seen, read, and heard enough to distinguish truth from falsity in this potentially great nation.

If we the people who are but one people called civil society decide to march under the 3.0 version, my prayer is that you will, even before we march, invite us for tea so that we can explain our concerns and issues to you.

You are, as Ruler in Council, also head of Islam for the federation, even if religion is technically a state matter. You therefore can become the umbrella for all other religions communities protected by the constitution.

My prayer for your reign is that you have the wisdom of King Solomon and you will get rid of unhealthy politicking that you have already described. The ordinary people cannot and should not be held ransom by politicians who are bigots and racists when we, after all, want to become a civilised society by 2020.

You can become a 3G Agong – a monarch for all three generations within Malaysia. There is nothing you cannot achieve if you have the desire to moderate for truth on behalf of all the peoples of Malaysia.

As a Christian, I will pray for you regularly in our services and in private. May God bless Malaysia under your tenure!

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J JOHN was in public service for 29 years. The views expressed here are his personal views and not those of any institution he is involved with.