My dear Malaysian brothers and sisters in Pakatan
Harapan, especially DAP supporters, and specifically Tony Pua,
I say this respectfully as someone who does not
belong to any political party.
When Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received a royal
pardon, many of you celebrated it. It was seen as wisdom, compassion, mercy,
and justice from the institution of the monarchy. But we must also understand
that the royal pardon itself is deeply connected to Malay adab, values,
culture, and the traditions surrounding the institution. Mercy, restraint,
diplomacy, symbolism, and even the language used by the royalty are all part of
the same ecosystem of adab.
Adab comes as a package deal. Either you embrace it
or you don’t.
You cannot celebrate one part of the institution
when it benefits your political agenda, yet reject or become offended by other
parts of the same cultural framework when they make you uncomfortable. We may
disagree, we may discuss, and we may critique respectfully. But adab also means
understanding context, intention, history, and the culture surrounding the
institution itself. And, in any royal decree or decision, to accept that the
royalty's judgments are based on wisdom and a holistic understanding of the
situation - be it in pardoning a citizen or the banning of pig farming.
Consistency matters.
As such, if we appreciated the wisdom and compassion
shown through the royal pardon extended to Anwar Ibrahim, then we should also
appreciate that the institution operates within a broader tradition of Malay
adab and social conduct, even if at times the approach may not align perfectly
with our own preferences.
Malaysia needs more maturity, balance, and mutual
understanding from all sides. These are part of our adab. We need to be
consistent; otherwise, we will be practicing hypocrisy.
Remember, adab is a package deal.
Peace,
Anas Zubedy
Kuala Lumpur
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