Of Kelantan : History in the making...

The current King is from Terengganu and his term will ends in 2011 when (God willing) the Sultan of Kedah will take over as the next Agung. After that? It is Sultan of Kelantan's turn. Now see the historical significance?

These past few weeks have seen few events unfolding in the country, there is one that may shape Malaysia in the future. To many, this event has been overshadowed by the high profile case involving the brutal killing of Sosilawati and her three companions on that fateful 30th August 2010 night or thereabout.

For those who are still clueless, I am talking about the Kelantan royal end to the palace crisis. For once, who says that PR and BN will always be at odds and take opposite stands in all issues and turn them into political front to bash each other? Both PR and BN accepted the 13th Sepetember 2010 proclaimation of Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra as Kelantan's new ruler, replacing his wheelchair bound and ill father.

Call it what you want but I see it as an abdication of sorts. It may not be as headline grabbing when Edward VIII abdicated his throne in United Kingdom in 1936 or when Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia stepped down from his throne in 2004 but it will be jotted down in Malaysian history, nonetheless.

Whilst abdication is the act of renouncing and resigning from the supreme office of the state, Kelantan's case takes a slightly different path when the recent ex-King was found to be incapable of running the state due to his prolong stroke-related illness. His consort (the Sultanah Kelantan) and his elder sister may think otherwise but we have to be realistic in approaching the solution. Kelantan succession council has been generous enough to allow reasonable time for the Sultan to overcome his illness and after more than a year, decided to proclaim a new Sultan in the form of Tuanku Muhammad Faris petra.

Tengku Mariam may have other thoughts but she must understand that Kelantan needs to move ahead and having a wheelchair bound and speech-impaired Sultan is not helping the state. A public servant may be given six months before he is being hauled up for medical board and the Kelantan succession council has given almost 16 months before making the decision. Yes, the present Sultanah may not be happy but she is not a member of the Kelantan succession council and her unhappiness is more of personal in nature.

Now, why do I say that it may shape Malaysia's future? Remember our constitution? Amongst others, the nine-member Ruler brothers will sit to decide who will be the next King of Malaysia and Malaysia rotates its King every 5 years from its stable of 9 Rulers. In terms of seniority of state (amongst the nine with rulers), Kelantan is ranked six behind Terengganu and Kedah. The current King is from Terengganu and his term will ends in 2011 when (God willing) it is expected that the Sultan of Kedah will be proclaimed as the next Agung. After that? It is Kelantan's turn. Now see the historical significance?

Of course, some may argue that the King is just ceremonial in nature but don't forget that the King actually wields a lot of power, if he choose to exercise his options and constitutional rights. For that, let's give the so-called "legal experts" the space to debate on what the King can or cannot do...

For now, let's just say that Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra's accession to the Kelantan throne is well accepted by his subjects, from both sides of political stands. My Kelantanese friends believed that the Kelantan succession council makes the right decision and it is time for Kelantan to forge ahead under his rule. God willing, six years down the line, Malaysia may see Faris Petra installed as the 15th King of Malaysia. Or do Malaysians bear to stand and see a wheelchair bound Head of State? I doubt it and that is why I see the move initiated by the Kelantan succession council is a wise one indeed.

Somebody may lost all her chances to continue"meddling" with the state affairs but then again her loss is Kelantan's gains...it will not be fair to all if she and her "golden son" is the only one who can decipher what the Sultan is saying. The Sultan may be saying one thing but they may choose to decipher it differently for their own gains...who knows?

On the sidelines, if PR and BN can jointly agree and accept the installation of Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra, then the royal house has less to worry, especially on the disturbing "whisper" campaigns on PKR is all for a republic country. As for PKR's nomination processes for the top posts, it will be forthcoming in the next postings...

In the meantime, please watch what you eat during these many "Rumah terbuka"....

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...