Good Governance Is For All

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A Kadir Jasin
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
PREAMBLE: Views expressed herein are entirely mine. I am writing in my personal capacity as a blogger. It has nothing to do with whatever position I may hold.
The headline says it allI COULD not agree more with the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, when he said dishonest leaders hurt the people.
The Ruler of  Perak, who is now performing the duties of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said so when speaking at the national level Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebration in Putrajaya on November 20th.
According to a Bernama report of November 2, the Sultan would be exercising the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from that date to December 31.

The King is reported to be “resting following treatment”. Not much is known about the nature of the King’s illness but there had been international media reports claiming that his majesty is in Russia.
When asked about it by the media yesterday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said: “I don’t know. I don’t have any official confirmation so I can’t say anything.”
The Star reported that speculation is rife that the 49-year-old Ruler has married a former Russian beauty queen.
On my part, I am told by the chairman of a media organisation that journalists who contacted the media officer of the Istana Negara were told that he could not reveal anything but acknowledge that there had been many queries from the media.
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Back to Sultan Nazrin, he was reported as saying that the many problems confronting the people today are caused by leaders who lacked integrity.
He said: "Material wealth that is earned through suspicious means will make someone rich instantly.

"And sudden wealth without the enrichment of the mind, intellect, knowledge and the soul is not the true meaning of being wealthy, and wealth that is earned this way does not last.

"This would only give birth to boastfulness and a culture of showing off which will then lead to unnecessary wastage."

Gods and Goddesses of the Gods

Does it not sound familiar to you?

It does to me – the US$27.3 million (about RM113.7 million) pink diamond necklace, hundreds of Hermes Birkin handbags, super expensive wrist watches and stacks of cash.

If this is not boastfulness and an extreme case of showing off, then what is it?

Such a culture, said Sultan Nazrin, would lead to the wastage of precious resources, poor development and unemployment in the country.

This sobering reminder, coming as it did from an intellectual Ruler, is refreshing and should be accorded recognition and be put into practice.

I don’t think that leaders – elected and hereditary – who took the oath of office in the name of God - should be scrambling for wealth.
In our country, irrespective of whether leaders are elected by the people or inherited their thrones, they are sufficiently provided for by the people.
There is no need for them to scramble to earn an income like a padi farmer, rubber tapper, fisherman or Grab driver.
They are not in the business of amassing wealth and competing with the people. Their duty is ruling and administering the country.
They are not expected to be involved in launching IPOs, owning IPPs or meddling in political affairs.
Intellectual Ruler

In recent years, Sultan Nazrin has emerged as a royal articulator and voice of reason. Rightly since his assumed royal title “Muizzuddin” in Arabic means the defender of the faith.
I had said the same thing in my Sinar Harian column on Sunday, November 18. He could be considered a royal intellect and thinker based on his speeches and statements. There is idealism in his voice.
It is not an easy task for a young ruler, who ascended the throne only four years ago, to position himself as "spokesman" of the royal institution. monarchs.
Educationally he is well equipped. He received a bachelor degree in philosophy from the Oxford University, Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard University and PhD in Political Economy also from Harvard.
If what has been articulated by Sultan Nazrin is put into practice we would have constitutional rulers who could fulfill the expectation of the people and be in sync with the new millennium.
I had the opportunity of reading and quoting from his late father Sultan Azlan Shah’s landmark “without fear or favour” rulings and speeches on many court cases and public speeches.
I even had the honour of being summoned to the old Istana Negara and lectured on proper “royal reporting” when the New Straits Times’ report on his visit to the Asian Defence Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur sometime in the late 1980’s caused his displeasure.
In leadership, therefore, irrespective of whether one is a lowly Ketua Kampung (village head) or a mighty King, good leadership is supreme.

Just as a reminder to all of us, during the October 22 installation of the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah Al Aminul Karim, the doa (blessings) included a Quranic quotation from the chapter Al-Imran (The Family of Imran).قُلِ اللّٰهُمَّ مٰلِكَ الۡمُلۡكِ تُؤۡتِى الۡمُلۡكَ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَتَنۡزِعُ الۡمُلۡكَ مِمَّنۡ تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ​ ؕ بِيَدِكَ الۡخَيۡرُ​ؕ اِنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ‏ ﴿3:26﴾
“O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You give dominion to whom You will, and take away dominion from whom You will, and You exalt whom You will, and abase whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Powerful.”
So King and pauper let us all be reminded.

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