theSun | FRIDAY JANUARY 9 2009 15
speak up!
Democracy is in our blood
that it was perhaps first codified: the religious righteousness or “Asian
Terengganu Inscription Stone, the values”. Sadly, these perversions of
earliest Malay written evidence that history have been accepted by too
a ruler was subject to a higher law, is many. The fact is that the various
our own Magna Carta. In 1895, Sultan lands of Nusantara had enjoyed a rich
Abu Bakar of Johor promulgated a tradition of socio-political develop-
modern constitution and other states ment rivalling that of Enlightenment
NEGRI SEMBILAN symbolises resembled a federation, who was appointed regent followed suit. In the person of Tuanku Europe. Of course we had our civil
one of the world’s most ancient where districts enjoyed Abiding until her son came of age. Abdul Rahman, the eighth Yang di- wars and periods of poverty and strife
democratic traditions still in autonomy while main- Times The matrilineal system Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan and – but so did every great democracy.
existence. 1773 is the officially- taining shared traditions also contributed to one of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Indeed, the experiences of Pagar
recognised year of the arrival of and deferring to central by Tunku ‘Abidin the hallmarks of Minang- Malaya, the Minangkabau tendency Ruyong and other Malay kingdoms
Raja Melewar, the first prince of government on key Muhriz kabau society: the practice for decentralisation and separation should be called upon for Malaysia
the Minangkabau Pagar Ruyong matters. among males of merantau, of powers persisted: he had sought today. Separation of powers, decen-
dynasty to reign in the peninsula, The upkeep of these traditions or roaming, in search of knowledge help from a Conservative member of tralisation, and the reconciliation
but recently discovered evidence required not only a bureaucratic and opportunities. While some other the House of Lords to end the highly- of democracy, religion and culture
puts the date back to 1730. Al- structure to implement them, cultures might regard leaving one’s centralised Malayan Union imposed through innovation and individual
though 1773 is still three years but also the intellectual capacity homeland as treachery or ingrati- by the Labour government; and after liberty can be achieved. It is possible
before the American Declaration to sustain them. These values tude, Minangkabau culture actively Merdeka he accepted that he had no for democracy, culture and religion
of Independence, the exact year is were transmitted to the Malay encourages it. power to remove his prime minister. to provide the base for prosperity
unimportant, because governance Peninsula as the Minangkabau Clearly, it was not just Negri Sem- Our independence and democratic and freedom. In the tough economic
in Negri Sembilan represented a settled in what became known as bilan which contributed to Malaysian values have of late been presented as climate that greets us in 2009, this
continuation of the Minangkabau Negri Sembilan, and continued political philosophy. Three centuries having been imposed by imperialists; realisation is ever more urgent.
narrative from the fourteenth to develop even as Pagar Ruyong before Raja Melewar, the Sultanate interference by foreign powers to
century, when Adityawarman was ravaged by the Padri War. By of Malacca was at its zenith, its pro- keep us under control and to make
founded the dynasty. the eighteenth century migration trade policies catalysed by the accept- sure we were compliant during the Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz heads the
By the seventeenth century, a to the west coast of the peninsula ance of Islam. But it was the Sultanate Cold War. These arguments are Project to Advance Democratic Insti-
unique system of governance had was enough for Johor to cede the of Kedah which first embraced the presented to justify infantile theories tutions at the Malaysia Think Tank.
developed whereby power was territory to the Minangkabau, religion, and it was in Terengganu of authoritarianism in the guise of Comments:
[email protected].
shared among three rulers: the who then petitioned their chief-
Raja Alam, Raja Adat and Raja tains for a ruler from Pagar
Ibadat. These rulers – the kings of Ruyong. Thus Negri Sembilan’s
the temporal, the cultural and the uniqueness began immediately,
religious spheres – had their own as the ruler was invited by the
areas of responsibility, and could representatives of the people.
act as checks and balances to one Of course, adat perpatih
another. By the time the French comprises more than just socio-
philosopher Montesquieu articu- political principles. One of its
lated his theory on the separation most well-known features is the
of powers, the Minangkabau empowerment of women: land
had been practising it for over and property is inherited through
a century. Alongside this was the female line and it is the
the process of decentralisation: husband who moves in with the
instead of concentrating power wife. In 1869 it was the mother of
at the centre, Pagar Ruyong Yam Tuan Antah, Tunku Intan,
letter
[email protected]
Organiser had permit
WE REFER to “Why the double permit. The presence of the police
standards?” (Jan 6). The gathering personnel was to ensure that there
was actually held on Dec 29, 2008 in would not be any untoward incident.
conjunction with the Maal Hijrah cel- The organiser adhered to the condi-
ebration. The organiser applied for tions and instructions of the police.
a permit and it was approved with The cycling event was held with-
several conditions. The gathering out a police permit and the organiser
commenced at 9am and ended at failed to adhere to instructions to
11am. It was attended by 700 peo- disperse and resisted police action.
ple. No action was taken because
it was held with the police permit Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob
and was conducted in accordance CPO
with the conditions stipulated in the Penang
