Reflections on the Human Condition - Api-fellowships.org

Before I conclude, allow me to offer a personal perspective
on Malaysia’s very unique model of governance—that of
constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
There are very few monarchies left in the world today.
Wherever it has survived, it has done so because the
institution has evolved to suit the temper of the times.
Nowhere is this truer than in Malaysia.
At independence, when some of our neighbors did
away with their hereditary rulers—India with their
maharajahs and Indonesia with their sultans—Malaysia
chose to retain its cherished tradition of royalty. But
meaningfully, not cosmetically or just for show. The
hereditary rulers were integrated in the new democracy
as a constitutional monarchy, their role and function
clearly defined under the constitution.
Far from being antithetical to the democratic process,
the monarchy actually enhances it. Being non-partisan
and above party politics it is uniquely placed to provide
additional checks and balances that are essential in a
functioning democracy. The monarchy thus enhances
the democratic process and strengthens the institutions
of governance. It is a bedrock of the constitutional
process.
In Malaysia, the rulers fill a void in the democratic
system by playing the role of impartial umpires. They
act as guarantors of the just implementation of the
law and as overseers ensuring that the instruments of
government are not abused. The monarchy, by its very
nature, is a force for moderation over extremism. The
cornerstone of the democratic process as we know it is
the well-known doctrine of the separation of powers—
the legislature, the executive and the judiciary being
the three entities. In Malaysia, the monarchy can be
considered a fourth entity.
This model has worked well for us. It is a model that
has contributed to the continuous stability we have
achieved in Malaysia. But what is good for us is not
necessarily good for others. Each country must find its
own path, at its own pace, toward achieving the right
balance between democracy and stability.
This is where I would like to pay tribute to the organizers
and participants of this workshop, and acknowledge the
important role that public intellectuals play, and can
play, in society. More so than before, today’s leadership
will have to come from an intellectual impetus. The
power of public opinion is more trenchant today
than ever before. We need our thought leaders to give
the intellectual lead based on our own priorities and
concerns. But the world can only be grasped by action
not contemplation. If we wish to be change agents,
we must venture out to participate more actively in
dialogue and collaborative action with the world
beyond. This atmosphere of sharing is clearly evident
at this workshop.
May I take this opportunity to wish you well in your
deliberations over the next two days.
Ref lections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity
The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows
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