One week after the largest rallies since 1998 all the print-media reported that Malaysian King (Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin) has expressed displeasure over claims that he and the Palace approved and supported Saturday’s illegal rally in the city. Tuanku Mizan also stressed that he and Istana Negara (Palace) had at no time approved or given any support – directly or indirectly – to any quarters which organised or were involved in the illegal assembly or any other activities that contravened the law.

Due to protocol, the statement was issued by Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja of Istana Negara (Royal Household) Datuk Wan Mohd Safiain Wan Hasan on behalf of Agong and not directly from the King himself. Since all the print-media are government-controlled, the front-paged news indeed gave a slap to the participants who gathered and rallied all the way braving the rains to the Palace to handle the memorandum to the King. It was claimed that The Agong did not say no to 100,000 citizens who wish to seek for an audience with His Majesty – the King wanted to know how many people will be representing the 100,000 rakyat and the names of the representatives.

According to the highly popular political blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin in his article, word was passed down the line that the 19th Brigade of the Royal Malay Regiment or Regimen Askar Melayu Di-Raja (RAMD) was on stand-bye, to move in if there are any fatal casualties. The article claims that fourteen armoured cars (kereta perisai) had earlier arrived from Sungai Petani and were parked at the Sungai Buloh military camp, ready to roll at a minute’s notice. It would take them ten or fifteen minutes to arrive at the scene of any violence against the rakyat.

So if the article was correct, does that mean the King being the Commander-in-Chief actually save the day with the police who received earlier endorsement from PM actually backed-off? But why the statement from the Palace (seven days later) denied the King actually gave the consent to the rallies? According to Malaysia-today the answer could be more interesting than you thought. It seems Wan Mohd Safiain is not the official spokesman of the King – the rightful person should be the Keeper of the Royal Seal. Malaysia-today’s theory was that it was actually a plan to send the Prime Minister and the King into conflict.

Malaysia-today even went to the extent of exposing that Malaysia’s intelligence agency miraculously reported the participants from the previous rally amounted to 138,000 people. The number was exaggerated in hoping the Prime Minister will panic and start making silly decisions which could accelerate his own downfall. Deputy Prime Minister Najib already said the government hopes to avoid using ISA, although such action will be the most unpopular but could only issued by the Prime Minister who holds the powerful portfolio as Minister of Internal Security.

As usual Malaysian politic never fails to amuse me. The plots and story-lines are far much better than watching the highly explosive Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American television series 24, except that you can’t find hero Jack Bauer in Malaysia. So far I believe the best season would be 24 Season 5 – how do you bring down the evil President of the United States?

The story (24 Season 5) might makes sense in the country that practices transparency and separation of powers, well maybe not 100% but at least there’re clear and written procedures on how to force the President to step down. Also in U.S. it’s rather difficult to have 90% of the House of Representatives (lower house) and Senate (upper house) members corrupted to the stage of rubber-stamping all the President’s wishes. If Malaysian Politic’s plots could be incorporated into the series it would definitely wins more awards. Malaysia needs Jack Bauer.

Other Articles That May Interest You ..

• Broom Award for the Information Minister please
• Malaysia’s Biggest Rallies since 1998 – KL under siege

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November 17th, 2007 by financetwitter

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