Federal gov't will create disruption

Malaysiakini - The statement by Tourism Minister Azalina Othman that her ministry is terminating its memorandum of understanding on tourism with opposition-led states is most unsettling.

This is one of many recent examples of the federal government administration being at apparent odds with individual states. Other examples include calls by the Penang Umno members to halt federal government mega-projects in the state, and protests from the federal government when the ruler of Terengganu appointed a Menteri Besar of its own choice.

Malaysia’s system of federal constitutional elective monarchy is unique in the region and many would argue that this unique system has contributed much to its success and stability. However, when Malaysia as a unified state emerged in 1963, many detractors predicted its early demise. On the one hand you had the Unfederated Malay States made up of the Northern and East coast states which had a long history of ties with India, Siam and Indochina together with the proud independent state of Johor which dates back to the Malaccan Sultanate days and which mounted a successful resistance (together with the Dutch) against Portugese rule in Malacca.

Then you had the Straits Settlements which consisted predominantly of Straits Chinese dating back to Parameswaran times when mass settlements from the imperial and merchant fleet of China occurred, and later migrations during the British Straits Settlement rule. Finally, with the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak, you had the people of Borneo with strikingly different racial, cultural and historical ties from the rest of Peninsula Malaysia. more...