The philosophy of legitimacy — The Malaysian Insider
Something only becomes legitimate when someone approves of the action. In a democracy, approval is given when the government is subject to the will of the people and when proper processes and procedures are followed.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
He does not get it. Legitimacy cannot be bestowed by royal decree or through the dishing out of generous handouts or even by occupying top political office.
Heck, even Zimbabwe's strongman Robert Mugabe knows that winning a rigged election cannot buy him the precious commodity called legitimacy.
But Perak's newly-installed Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Kadir does not get it. He snapped at troublesome journalists asking troublesome questions today.
When asked if he had the support of the majority of Perakians, he became defensive. When the reporter pushed further and pointed out that he and Barisan Nasional did not wrest control of the state legislature through an election, he fired back: "What do you mean? This is a democratic process. Do you understand democracy? I am asking you, do you understand the political philosophy of democracy.''
The reporter did not reply and stoke the fires of confrontation. Zambry is a likeable chap but he is deluding himself if he believes that the voters of Perak are interested in what Rawls and Weber have to say about the philosophy of demoracy.
He is on more dangerous ground if he believes that Barisan Nasional is guaranteed legitimacy by virtue of being participants of the swearing-in process in Kuala Kangsar and the soiled motives of Pakatan Rakyat in triggering the defection dance.
Something only becomes legitimate when someone approves of the action. In a democracy, approval is given when the government is subject to the will of the people and when proper processes and procedures are followed.
These important ingredients have been missing in Perak. When the Sultan of Perak directed Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin and the Pakatan Rakyat state government to stand down in favour of Barisan Nasional, he may have been exercising what he considered his rightful constitutional powers.
But the ensuing public debate on the correctness of his action suggests that many Perakians do not believe that the process was followed.
The fact that BN did not have the opportunity to test its popularity at the ballot box has also hurt its legitimacy in the eyes of some voters. This is something that Zambry should understand quickly.
And as Ivo Daalder of Brookings Institution said: "Legitimacy is not a luxury for the powerful and a necessity of the weak. It is what's necessary to translate power into success.''
