Malaysia’s sovereignty lies somewhere between A-G and IGP

– Sir Wenger Khairy
The Malaysian Insider
11 February 2016

For the last 58 years, brave men in uniform fought and died to protect the sovereignty of the country. By the term “sovereignty”, I mean the power or authority of the country.

If the country is invaded by the Royal Sulu Army, or if the communists attack and set fire to villages and plantations, it is quite clear to see that those two agents were engaged in acts that challenge the sovereignty of the country.

The same is true if a political leader engages in corrupt acts and there is no action taken against the leader. This is because the leader breaks the laws of the land and challenges the power and authority of the Parliament and the Yang DiPertuan Agong, as the supreme authority in the country.

While the act of engaging in corruption may not result in the immediate loss of life, it exposes the country to ridicule on the world stage and in the process of covering up corruption, people get killed. At the same time, the country’s name is being “thrashed” as high officials are willing to make up stories in order to pervert the truth.

This was particularly struck home during a conversation I had with a German banker from a leading international financial institution, when he sarcastically emphasised that Datuk Seri Najib Razak was innocent by repeating the fairy tale told by Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali about a RM2.6 billion donation from the Saudi royal family to a good and sincere Prime Minister, who subsequently returned billions back to the same royal family.

Such is the reputation of Malaysia. People do not respect the country anymore.

And as Tan Sri Muhiyiddin Yassin said, it is the people who suffer. Do not be surprised that Malay ladies are now working as high-end maids for the rich Sheiks in Saudi Arabia. This was indeed another shocker!

We all know the cause of the problem – but what is the solution.

The answer: two public offices as prescribed in the Constitution.

The first being the office of the Attorney-General of Malaysia.

The second, the position of Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

If good and sincere people occupy these two offices, this nightmare scenario that is currently engulfing the country gets solved immediately.

I personally think there is no gain in an open fight between the royalty and Umno – the ties between both run deep and both are important foundations of the larger Malay society.

However, changing a couple of public officials should not be too much of a hassle. After all, Umno is united behind Najib, and the party has also not publicly stated that they are united behind Apandi or the IGP, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

So if they were “gently” persuaded to resign their offices as an act of patriotic duty, so as to be replaced by people of a higher calibre, I doubt Umno would at all mind.

After all, politics is the art of the possible. By thinking laterally, one can find that the path that is possible works well with all parties concerned. – February 11, 2016.