A system that ensures stability of the nation

THE election of the Yang di-Pertuan (YDP) Agong to serve the country on a rotational basis is a symbol of the stability of Malaysia's administrative system.
According to the book Dustur Wa Salatin by Datuk Wira Dr. Khairil Annas Jusoh, published in 2014, Malaysia is one of the 43 nations in the world with monarchy governments.
Of the 43 countries, 36 of them practice constitutional monarchy while five others practice absolute monarchy. The other two, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) practice a mixed constitution system.
Nations that practice absolute monarchy are Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
Other countries which had or still with a constitutional monarchy system are Australia, Belgium, Bhutan, Cambodia, Japan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand, and Britain.
Rotation
There are nine states in Malaysia with kings namely Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Negri Sembilan.
Seven of the nine states use the title Sultan while Perlis uses Raja. Negri Sembilan uses the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar.
Since 1957, each of the states' ruler ascend to the throne as the YDP Agong on a rotational basis starting with Negri Sembilan. This is followed by Selangor, Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Johor and the last for the first round is Perak.
According to the Head of Strategic Studies of the Ummah Unity Council Datuk Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain, as the rotation enters the second round, the system would be used as the basis of selection for the next YDP Agong.
However, it is not something written as the appointment of the YDP Agong still requires the majority vote by the Conference of Malay Rulers.
"The rotational system is important. It is a reflection of the sovereignty held by the Rulers who take their turn every five years," he said.
It also employed a method where the Conference of Rulers could meet and decide on the suitability of the next candidate in line for the post of the YDP Agong.
A system that works
Meanwhile, the Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Leadership and Community of Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Prof Datuk Dr Ramlah Adam said that the Malay rulers have worked together since over a century ago.
"The Conference of Rulers have gathered 244 times since the Durbar Meeting in 1897. This shows that it is an administrative system that works. Our own Parliamentary system is 60 years old.
"This proves that it can stand the test of time. It has been through traditional governments, the invasion of the British and Japanese, through the formation of Malaysia and until today," she said.
She opined that the country's constitutional monarchy played an important role in the administrative system as the Rulers are impartial in all matters, especially in politics, economy and national policies.
"When it comes to politics, people are divided but this is not the case when it comes to the monarchy institution. There is no reason for division as the monarchy is apolitical," she said.
Ramlah found the federal constitutional monarchy system still highly relevant today.
"The rotational system is good an is executed well. We do not have issues like that of an Agong refusing to step down from his position. After five years of serving the nation, they would step down and return to their respective states. This has gone on without a hitch from 1957 until today," she said.
The only one in the world
Perhaps there are those who do not realise that Malaysia is the only country in the world where the YDP Agong is elected on a rotational basis from among a Conference of Rulers.
Ramlah cited the example of Spain, Jordan and Saudia Arabia which were ruled by only one royal family.
Wan Ahmad echoed her sentiment and said that that it was a system that helped preserved the sovereignty of the state.
"It is a unique system of rotation among nine kings. In the UAE, the division of authority among kings is based on the position given to each of them," he said. — Bernama