SAKMONGKOL AK47 : This prince can walk and chew gum at the same time.

with thanks to: 

TUESDAY, 29 JANUARY 2013

The Prince and the DAP

I was in Seremban yesterday (on Thaipusam day) visiting a friend. On the fence bordering the field in front of King George V School, there was a banner showing the picture of Tunku Abdul Aziz. Tunku Aziz is a former vice president of DAP. The banner declared that Tunku Aziz will be a speaker on current political issues. As I was driving past, I could not tell whether there were other speakers. Tunku Aziz’s face was featured prominently on the banner.

I asked my friend, what was the occasion that required the presence of this former VP of DAP, whom the party held in great esteem. Tunku Aziz has since carved a name as a critic- at- large on DAP. DAP hasn’t spoken ill of Tunku Aziz even though they have parted company. As for Tunku Aziz, he has been a much sought after commentator on DAP politics especially by members of the MSM. He is free to do as he pleases.

I was told Tunku Aziz told his audience of around 100 people of efforts by the DAP to court a son of the ruler of Negri Sembilan into the world of politics. To be more specific, courting the prince to join DAP.

The son of the ruler in question is Tunku Zain al Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz. He is as we know the person behind IDEAS- an NGO committed to the propagation of good thinking and civilized debates on a wide ranging of topics. He also writes a column on Fridays in a leading newspaper. He is a graduate of LSE and has worked, I am told at the House of Commons. Politics is therefore not entirely a field in which he has no knowledge.

If one has met him, one will be impressed at the prince’s knowledge and intelligence. He articulates effortlessly on a number of issues and I can assure you, he can hold his own in any debates and discussions. In short, in contrast to how I classify some people, this prince can walk and chew gum at the same time.

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Tunku Zain Al-Abidin responds to Tunku Aziz and Anthony Loke

I will be writing about the statement by Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim and the response by Anthony Loke Siew Fook more fully in my usual column on Friday, but for now, I emphasise the following:

It is unfortunate that private discussions have been made public. Political parties should be able to freely engage any Malaysian citizen to discuss confidential proposals within the boundaries of the law. I am grateful to Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, for his tweet…

However, now that this has been brought to the public domain, I can confirm that the descriptions of the contents of my conversation with the DAP some months ago are broadly accurate. As it was an informal conversation, no minutes were taken. It should be noted that I have been invited to similar informal and private conversations with representatives of other political parties as well.

As I have written in my articles over the past five years, I respect and admire principled and hardworking politicians regardless of the party they belong to. However, in my view, no political party today articulates the vision of our Ayahanda Kemerdekaan with sufficient conviction and consistency for me to consider joining them.

It has been alleged that it is improper for a child of a Ruler to participate in party politics. However, five children of Rulers have already done so, namely:

a) YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah of Kedah (MP for Kuala Muda 1955-1970 and Prime Minister 1957-1970; UMNO and Semangat 46).

b) YAM Tunku Panglima Besar Tunku Abdullah ibni Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negri Sembilan (MP for Rawang 1964-1974; UMNO).

c) YAM Tengku Sri Paduka Raja Tengku Ibrahim ibni Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah of Terengganu (ADUN for Ajil 1990-1995; Semangat 46 and PAS).

d) YAM Tengku Dato’ Sri Azlan ibni Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang (MP for Jerantut 1999-present and Deputy Minister of Transport 1999-2008; Semangat 46 and UMNO)

e) YAM Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Jamalullail ibni Syed Putra Jamalullail of Perlis (MP for Arau 2004-2008 and ADUN for Pauh 2008-present; UMNO).

Malaysian civil society space has grown significantly in the past few years, and I have long been active in that environment, since before my father was elected the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan. It is in this space that I wish to continue to contribute, particularly through the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and the various foundations in which I serve.