Royals step in as government struggles with a divided Malaysia

Such action could set dangerous precedent, undermine administration, say analysts

- Shannon Teoh

Malaysia's monarchs have increasingly been stepping into the void in the last few years, with the most recent interventions on communal issues in the past month casting a spotlight on the Anwar Ibrahim government's struggles to unify a divided country.

The King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, has been at the forefront of the royal calls for unity. On April 9, he even summoned leaders from Umno and the Democratic Action Party - key members of the administration that nominally represent often conflicting Malay nationalist and secular interests, respectively to draw a line on "Socksgate", the controversy over 14 pairs of socks with the word "Allah" printed on them.

"I hope political leaders are not extreme in giving their views on religious and racial matters.

Leaders should be bridges between our plural citizens," Sultan Ibrahim said after the meeting, which included Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, DAP deputy secretary-general Liew Chin Tong and Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh.

Dr Akmal has been the loudest politician calling for retribution against KK Super Mart despite the convenience store chain having apologised for the offending footwear, which found their way into a shipment of over 18,000 pairs of socks. Further allegations of insulting Islam have since cropped up involving shoes and prayer mats.

But analysts believe such interventions could set a dangerous precedent for Malaysian democracy, undermining the elected administration and elevating the acceptance of royal activism amid a climate of political uncertainty.

"The King is helping to restore calm and order as PM Anwar's government appears to have been having trouble putting this issue to bed. The next time such an incident occurs, more people would look to the King," S.

Rajaratnam School of International Studies' (RSIS) Malaysia programme coordinator Ariel Tan told The Straits Times.