COMMENT | D-Day for Malaysia

COMMENT | To the Allied Forces D-Day for the invasion of Normandy was June 6, 1944. It was from this moment that the might of Adolf Hitler’s army was destroyed by the gallant men and women who gave their lives for freedom and democracy.

For the Malaysian Royalty, D-Day has to be this Wednesday, June 16, 2021. On this day, members of the Royal household will decide if majority rule continues to be the foundation of parliamentary democracy; and if our system of government still wishes to live by the rule of law.

Throughout history it was never easy for the monarchy to rule; and to disregard the wishes of those wielding political, financial and military power. I recounted to you a couple of weeks ago how Imperial Japan was weakened considerably with the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

It was only in a matter of four years into his reign that Emperor Go Zoyei had to give way to Ieayasu, the mighty Tokugawa Shogun his power over the military and finance; leaving to the emperor the title of the titular head in the general administration of the country.

In Europe, the days of the Emperor and the Kings crumbled after the French Revolution. From that momentous day, Royal households disappeared one after another. In countries where they still kept their glitter and became symbols of past glory; they were reduced to be “constitutional monarchs”. They still adorn their regalia and conservative traditionalists still look up to them with fondness. Unfortunately, they no longer wield real power.

With slogans like Equality, Fraternity, Liberty or Death, the French Revolution captured the imagination of the masses all over the world. Representative democracies and popular franchisement then started to take roots...