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Royalty Extraordinaire
Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee Thursday, 18 November 2010 15:59
CPI Writings
With their front page headlines highlighting developments on the massive Sime loss, readers of the country's two main English papers may not have noticed the news report of the speech by Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, the consort of the Sultan of Johor, which was buried in the inner pages.
The occasion of the speech was a conference on 'Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason' held on Nov 16 in Kuala Lumpur. The prime mover of the meeting in which I participated as a panelist was PCORE, a group that is representative of Malaysians who embrace and share the notion of peace as the way forward to achieve unity and integration.
Credit must go to the PCORE leadership for bringing together a diverse mix of young and older people from different backgrounds to voice their frank concerns on current issues and developments in the country.
For me the real star of the conference was Raja Zarith Sofiah. Readers who missed the news item may be interested in the excerpt from the news report of her speech.
"In her keynote address at the Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason conference, she described the use of 'pendatang' to describe non-Bumiputeras as "hurtful and ignorant", and that more discussions were needed to address and resolve the gulf between ethnic and religious communities.
"Rather than simplify and shy away from sensitive issues, we should fight destructive rhetoric with constructive dialogue. It is shameful when apparently educated and mature individuals use such terms or suggest fellow Malaysians go back to where they came from.
Describing her own ancestral background as a mix between Sumatran and Peranakan Chinese, she said it was important to recognise the diversity of Malaysian society, brought about by centuries of interracial and interfaith marriages and communication." (New Straits Times, Nov 17, 2010)
This open and proud acknowledgment of her mixed ancestral background is quite unprecedented. It puts to shame the way in which many of our leaders who have a similar mixed ancestry either try to hide or suppress the inconvenient truth, or engage in flaunting or agitating a mono-ethnic or religious stance as if this has been part of their, and the country's DNA from time immemorial.
Raja Zarith Sofiah's speech was much more than what was reported in the newspapers. It also covered her personal experience and thinking on religions and the importance for Muslims to learn about other cultures and religions and their heritage.
She spoke from the heart, simply and without the need for any convoluted intellectual argument or high sounding clichés to drive home the importance of cherishing and protecting the country that belongs to all of us -- highly or lowly born; brown, yellow or black; and worshipping one, many or no god.
Readers may not be aware of the wide ranging accomplishments and interests of Raja Zarith Sofiah. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degree from Oxford University (her BA is in Chinese Studies). Besides Malay and English, she is able to communicate in Mandarin, Italian and French. She is a patron of the arts, an artist and author who has written children's books including Puteri Gunung Ledang. She is also the columnist of The Star's 'Mind Matters' column, and let out that her articles are being put together in book form soon.
Although I am a republican at heart, logic tells me that we may need the type of monarchy she personifies more than ever to hold the country together and to remind us of our common humanity. With her and other royalty who care for the country in the way she does, there is greater hope that the nation can overcome the racial and religious demons that torment us.
Finally, I should point out that I was privileged to sit at her table where I and others -- during the lunch chit-chat on topics ranging from how the handphone and Skype have transformed our lives to the inconvenience of sleep apnea - learnt that she has sleepless nights thinking about the predicament of our country and our people, and wondering how best she can be of service. The insomnia that troubles her, I am sure, also afflicts all of us concerned about the way ahead for the country.
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20-11-2010 | Helmi - Daulat Tuanku
Its heartening to learn that among the Royalty we have those more down-to-earth in his/her view. Lately we are led to believe that their Royal status and positions are enshrined as the protector of a defined ethnicity, The Royal House of Johor included.
In the early years and more important now there is a need for the Royal House(s) to play a unifying role. And where would this more appropriate than down South? Johore has provided us with Dato' Onn Jaafar who saw the need for a different "UMNO" and so perhaps another can take the lead. This
BTW, where can I get the full text of her speech?
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19-11-2010 | I am a Malaysian - Where are the Pure Malaysian at Heart
It is very hard to hear this type of thing appear in our News nowadays. It is very obvious, since Mahathir took to power for 20 plus years ago, thing in Malaysia were never the same. I am sure if the source of this problem are not nibbed in the bud, feeling of animosity and hatred will be the in the uptrend way into the future and it is very dangerous indeed, because with the emergence of PERKASA/KKK in Malaysia and with the backing of Mahathir, Najib was made into a useless sitting Bull and crap just because Mahathir want his son to be the next PM.
Forget about Mohiden and Hisham, they will be history, Mahathir will not play by the rule, because his objective is to win at all cost.
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19-11-2010 | chan chong sun
Not that people like Mahathir, Ibrahim Ali, Ahmad Said, Riduan Tee and their cohorts do not know the truth about their roots. They behave in the way they do because of greedy and selfish motives. The worst and frightening part is that the majority of the people who walks the corridors of power also shares the same behaviour. Nothing short of another gigantic tsunami will be able to wash these craps away.
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19-11-2010 | abdul halim Hj.Ahmad
From the time of our belovered 1st Prime Minister and most of our Sultan with the British maanipulation, the descendant were not Melayu tulin. To understand the history of Melayu tulin will be another chapter of history. Simply put, my wife, a chinese when converted and wanted to have her surname, then our kids names etc.. What do I call my kids, MALCHIN, CHINMAL? Now in Sudan, the same dispute arise. North, south, Sudanese, African , Muslim non muslim, colour not coloured within a family. So lets respect each other and remain tolerance of these issues. Look outside and see what these cause. I am in the middle of this environment.I can imagine.
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18-11-2010 | A Minority
Honestly,how we the minority wish all other royalties lead like this distinguished HRH,then no selfish politicians will dare to talk nonsense solely to score points at the expense of nation building.Thank you your Royal Highness for speaking out for us the minority.
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18-11-2010 | SAJ - Red Herring?
Please spare us the agony!
Remember one Raja N****n?
What high hopes we placed on HRH!
Then Silver State was stolen from the Rakyat!
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18-11-2010 | casper - She's got her father's eyes.
Yes, fully in agreement with Khoo here Dr.Lim, the essence of the conference is one of much significance, and surely against the grain of what UMNO would like to see - pitching their stance as champions/the protectorate of all Malays - but all at once, the good princess shoots down such bigoted views and hence, her speech delivered buried deep amongst the classified.
At a personal level, I'm glad you related the last two paragraphs Doc, relating the up close and personal banter shared in close confines with the good princess. It gives readers an in sight on what makes her tick, as I spare a thought for the late Sultan Idris, who is surely to smile onto his precious daughter from the heaven's above, knowing that Zarith Sofia's speech was one that hit the right notes and carried substance to nullify sinister divisive forces that continue to haunt the entire nation.
Also, I think it safe to deduct the good princess comes across as fetching and a charm by your description. For the future, we should be so lucky to the lady in waiting as Queen/consort to the HH in due course, a proposition that is just a matter of time.
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18-11-2010 | ahkhoo - Mr
Dr TG Lim, thank you for your relentless effort to write articles of national interest as well as those with a tinge of political connection.
May you be bless richly in health for your never ending endeavor in seeing a more united Malaysia. I'd have read almost every article that I can find written by you and can conclude that you are one great patriotic Malaysian.
Yes,. we have had allowed too many politicians within the ruling regime, taking us for a very costly ride to date. With soaring debts and very low FDI's, we are faced with uncertain future and yet we have politicians rubbing salt unto our wounds.
We need to cut such callous politicians down from their high horses, so to speak and shout them down on each and evry occassion they spew racial hatred or say things out of content. Continue your good work and surely the rewards are plentiful.
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Hear!hear! Thanks for respecting fellow Malaysians no matter what creed, colour or religion one holds. After all aren't we Malaysian under one country? Proud to be born a Malaysian, die a Malaysian and being a Malaysian... those who says otherwise .... is not a Malaysian! Thank goodness to HRH who respects that and voice it. Isn't it sick what political games some people will do to win points!