Going black may have backfired

Pakatan has missed a golden opportunity to make a fresh start with the new Sultan. Pakatan politicians had a controversial relationship with the late Sultan. They regarded him as one of the factors that cost them the state after only a year in power.

Joceline Tan, The Star

The Perak legislative assembly is no stranger to controversy and Pakatan Rakyat’s latest ‘black protest’ seems like a continuation of their adversarial stand on the state government and the Palace.

THE royals are famous for their stiff upper lip and Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah is no exception. The Sultan of Perak’s face was quite hard to read as he delivered his royal speech at the first state assembly sitting of the year.

He could see from his elevated seat that there was a grand standoff going on between the government side and the opposition bench, but he was composed from start to end as Raja Permaisuri Zara Salim looked on, her face calm and beautiful.

A controversial event was unfolding before his eyes. The Barisan Nasional side was in the ceremonial dress that is requisite for the inaugural sitting every year. But the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen were dressed in black, from head to toe.

Most of the opposition assemblymen had also decided not to wear the songkok which is part of the ceremonial attire.

That day was April 1, but it was no April Fool’s joke.

State exco member Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon’s first thought when he saw the Pakatan YBs arriving in black was: “Oh no, why are they doing this on his first time here as the Sultan.”

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was beyond upset and was said to be boiling inside.

It was not his fault, but he felt responsible that this had happened when the sovereign was making his maiden appearance at the state assembly as Sultan of Perak.

“Tuanku is a gentleman Sultan. He is engaging and respectful to both sides. He has not worn his full ceremonial suit as the Sultan to any other event before this.

“He chose the opening of the state assembly to wear it for the first time because he wanted to honour the legislative House. And this is how they return his respect?” he said.

The all-black attire was in protest against four issues – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment, the GST, the arrests of two Perak assemblymen at the #Kitalawan demonstration in Kuala Lumpur and the jailing of PAS members who tried to obstruct the swearing-in of Dr Zambry in 2009.

If the purpose of the protest was to make a big impact, then Pakatan has been wildly successful.

The black protest has coloured the week-long assembly sitting, overshadowed the agenda of the House and become the talking point among the local folk.

It is also proof that Pakatan in Perak is still intact even as the coalition in other states is unravelling.

In fact, Pakatan in Perak had even taken a united stand to declare that there would be no hudud law if it were returned to power.

PAS does not seem to have problems with DAP in the state and former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin of PAS works well with the powerful DAP cousins Nga Kor Ming and Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham.

But the Barisan side has accused Pakatan of being disrespectful and insolent towards the Sultan.

The Pakatan side claimed the Sultan had not shown that he was upset and accused the Barisan side of exaggeration.

“It was not against Tuanku, the protest was against Barisan. We wanted to remind people of these issues,” said Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang, one of the two arrested at the #Kitalawan protest.

But it is rather disingenuous of Pakatan politicians to claim that the Sultan was not upset.

The Sultan left immediately after delivering his speech without even having a cup of tea, let alone stay on for the traditional photo session.

The Malay cybersphere has been throbbing with commentary about what happened and most of it has been negative about the protest, with some demanding that Nizar and Ngeh be stripped of their Datukship.

It was seen as an un-Malay thing to do and the Malay YBs who participated in the protest have been accused of forgetting their roots.

“I don’t think that all Chinese approve of what happened. The Chinese also like our present Sultan.

“They have read his comments on issues and they are proud to have a Sultan like him,” said Dr Mah, who is also Chenderiang assemblyman.

Politics is also about timing and Pakatan has missed a golden opportunity to make a fresh start with the new Sultan.

Pakatan politicians had a controversial relationship with the late Sultan. They regarded him as one of the factors that cost them the state after only a year in power.

But Sultan Nazrin is one of the most enlightened and intellectual Rulers in the country. He has a PhD from Oxford University, is extremely well-read and has defined views on society and issues.

He is also aware of the way society has changed around the royal institution. When he married Tuanku Zara, he declined the state allocation and paid for the wedding expenses himself.

He wanted to make a fresh start after ascending the throne and, according to Dr Zambry, the Sultan has often invited elected representatives from both sides to Palace events and programmes.

However, it is clear Pakatan leaders have not gotten over the way they were toppled, but the black protest may have backfired.

They got off to a bad start with the Sultan who will be formally installed in May and it will affect their credentials with the Malay voters.

Pakatan is still hopeful of recapturing Perak. After all, it lost to Barisan by only four seats in the general election. But it has maxed out on the non-Malay seats and needs support from the Malay heartland to taste power again.

What happened is not going to help them where it matters the most.