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Wednesday 23 September 2009

THE ROYAL SPAT: SOME SENSE OF CIVILITY WILL DO

Rocky's Bru posted a Malay Mail report on the statement by the Raja Muda of Johor that "the RM50  million Negri Sembilan’s Tunku Dara Naquiah demanded as compensation for a 'vicious assault' on her son last October" was '"pure extortion', 'unreasonable' and should not be entertained."

In my comments to Rocky's earlier post, I said that having had resided both in Negri Sembilan and Johor - the very states of the two antagonists - I've become quite familiar with the two royal families, and I was sure then that there will be a strong reaction, at the very least some verbal tirades, from the Johor royalty. What followed next was just as had been expected. There will be no such verbal tirades in public of course, but not surprisingly, the Johor Royalty's reaction shows that it will not take the issue lying down.

Rocky suggested that a special body or council be set up to resolve problems involving members of the Malaysian royalty. This however may be costly  and time-consuming and I doubt the royal families involved would be willing to go through such taxing proceedings supervised by an external body. What would be more palatable is that the two royal families exercise some civility in handling the problem. They can choose a go-between or mediator - someone from the royal families of other states who is acceptable to both parties - and settle the matter quietly without resorting to legal action or trial by media. This is an internal royal matter and it should stay that way. Showing courteousness, respect and graciousness will go a long way towards building better relationship between the two royal families and improving the image of the country's royalty in general. Nothing can be gained by ill-feeling and acts of retribution.

Interestingly, the forthcoming by-elections will be held in a constituent in Negri Sembilan (Bagan Pinang). Coincidence or the work of "hidden hands"? It's anybody's guess. PR will no doubt go to town with this issue in their campaign and that is not good for the already beleaguered BN. As the recent Perak case shows convincingly, the royalties are easy meat for PR. And things will get worse if BN chooses the wrong candidate. 

Let's hope common sense eventually prevails.

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