Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come out saying that the Malay Rulers should stay away from being involved in business deals, as they stand to receive preferential treatment or may be taken advantage of by opportunistic quarters.
Mahathir said he felt there was a need to speak out on the issue, as the practice of Malaysian royalty being involved in business would be detrimental to not only the country, but also to the institution of the Malay Rulers.
Speaking in an interview with The Mole‘s Azreen Hani, Mahathir said, “We have provided laws and designated our rulers as Constitutional Monarchs. But along the way they (rulers) do something which is not within their realms. They go and do something and we say nothing.
“They go on to do more and more until they become businessmen. They make bids for projects…of course they are highly respected and people don’t turn them down easily.”
“Other people find it difficult to do business because they cannot compete against these people. So it becomes necessary to point out this thing. It’s very unpleasant because I respect the Rulers. They are our Rulers, but unless you put a stop to this practice, there’ll be other people who’ll want to make use of the Rulers for their own purpose.”
Mahathir also reminded that previous amendments to the Federal Constitution with regards to the scope of the Rulers’ powers were done to preserve the Rulers’ position in Malaysia, and in turn the Rulers should not be involved in matters of state administration and business.
He added, “I don’t want anything that results in ignoring the Constitution to go on because once you ignore the Constitution someday people will ignore provisions (for the existence) of the Malay Rulers.”
Mahathir made the statements as his response to the recent tabling of the Johor Housing and Property Board Bill, which some critics have accused of granting the Sultan of Johor executive power in the administration of the state – a contradictio of the Federal and Johor constitutions.
The Johor Housing and Property Board Bill, facing intense scrutiny and vocal opposition, was subjected to 10 amendments, including one stipulating that the Sultan has to act on the advice of the Menteri Besar, before it was unanimously passed by the Johor state assembly.
