"Identity Monarchy": Interrogating Heritage for a Divided Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia, it has been observed, is currently experiencing a "revival" of "Malay kingship" with the growing importance of "proactive and participating constitutional rulers." In fact, modern Malaysia has since independence been characterized by monarchy--by a multiplicity of Rulers and elaborate royal ceremony and hierarchy --as well as by its "plural society." But the modern monarchs--though they have never become quite "constitutional Rulers"--cannot be seen as merely "traditional," because the institution of monarchy was transformed in a fundamental way during the British colonial period. Monarchy continues to be an underexamined feature of the Malaysian polity, and when it is discussed there is a tendency to focus on issues of power and to neglect its sociocultural role. One pre-colonial dimension of monarchy that continues to be significant today--though in a manner less psychologically profound than before--is its identity-giving role. The principal concern of this article is to determine-- through a process of hermeneutic retrieval--if this role is merely relevant to the Malay community, or does it possess more inclusive possibilities? Are the Rulers of Malaysia essentially "Malay Rulers" or has the institution a nation-building potential that has so far not been fully utilized? The question is important for a country that many see as becoming increasingly divided.