ADUN SPEAKS | On Mahathir and monarchy

ADUN SPEAKS | Anyone committed to Westminster democracy and constitutional monarchy has no problem agreeing with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was right to suggest a national discourse on the constitutional monarchy. But the problem with him is that he has less moral authority to talk about it.

While some may disagree with this the truth remains that while he may be cited as the prime mover behind the constitutional amendments to clip the wings of the monarchy, Mahathir could not run away from the fact that he had a hand in weakening the key democratic institutions in the country.

The judiciary crisis of 1988, which ended with the sacking of judiciary head Salleh Abas, emasculation of Parliament and the dilution of the neutral position of the public service, among others, immediately come to mind.

It has to be said that the prevalence of a constitutional monarchy is a process that takes ages to mature and be functional. Such a transformation is indeed a comprehensive process involving all the main institutions, particularly Parliament and judiciary.

Apart from that, the political system must be one that is able to fill the space left behind by the establishment led by the monarchy institution.

One has to remember that...