According to senior political adviser to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the decree by the Sultan of Selangor should be viewed as advice and guidance, not a directive.
“A royal decree serves as a reminder born of the wisdom of the royal institution, expressed for the good of the state and its people. It is not a directive in the sense that certain political leaders have misinterpreted it,” he said.
For context, the royal decree issued by the Sultan of Selangor that generated this response by Tengku Zafrul is likely related to the one where His Majesty decreed that all pig farming activity in Selangor should be stopped.
His Majesty’s decree was then challenged, most strongly and recently by the advisor of DAP's secretary general, Tony Pua, a couple of days ago.
Tony questioned whether the royalty are empowered to issue directives within the constitutional framework that our country operates in.
Now, I am not a language expert, but from my understanding, the Sultan’s decree or “titah” for pig farming in Selangor to be stopped cannot be interpreted as advice or guidance.
It cannot, because by definition, guidance can only be given by somebody who has walked the path that you wish to walk.
If you are Leo Messi, for example, and I am an aspiring footballer, then and only then can you give me guidance.
You can tell me to kick the ball this way and not that way, or eat this and not that, and I will listen to you because I want to achieve what you have achieved.
As for advice, advice is an instruction given by someone who knows better about something, or has a lot of experience about something, or is an expert on a subject, to you, for your benefit.
For example, a doctor can give you advice about your health, although you do not want to be a doctor, because they are an expert on the subject of health.
By this definition, we cannot say that a king is guiding the people, because the people cannot be the king. You cannot guide anyone who does not wish to be, or cannot be, you.
As for advice, I suppose you can say that His Majesty has given his advice on the subject because perhaps His Majesty may have more knowledge or expertise about the matter.
But the thing about advice is that people whom you direct your advice to can choose not to abide by it.
A doctor can advise you to stop eating the way you are eating because otherwise you will get a heart attack, but whether to listen or not is ultimately up to you.
If you choose not to listen to the doctor, the doctor is not going to be angry at you. They might be saddened for you, but they are not going to be angry at you.
Also, when it comes to guidance and advice, there is no concept of punishment underlying it.
If you do not take somebody’s advice or guidance, you do not need to fear punishment. You do not even need to fear the anger of those whose advice or guidance you have not taken.
You might disappoint them, and they might be saddened for you, but they are not going to be angry at you.
Considering everything, I would say that, to me at least, what the Sultan of Selangor decreed in terms of banning pig farming in Selangor should be construed as a directive, unlike what Tengku Zafrul is saying, or at least it should be seen as an expression of His Majesty’s wishes.
A directive is an order or command given by a superior in an organisation to those below them, as to how to conduct themselves within the framework of the organisation’s values, ethos, or culture.
If you are the CEO of your company, for example, you can order your employees not to use certain words when dealing with the company’s customers because it does not tally with the company’s values, ethos, or culture.
If an employee insists on using the banned words, then they can be punished by the company for ignoring the CEO’s directive, by being suspended or fired, for example.
From this point of view, the Sultan's decree on pig farming should thus be seen as the head Selangor directing the state of Selangor to not have pig farms, because it is not consistent with the values, ethos or practises of the Selangor State.
Other than seeing it as a directive, I think it is also appropriate to view the King’s decree or titah as His Majesty’s wishes.
A wish is something like a directive, but it is given within an unofficial grouping or organisation, like your family.
Your father, for example, can wish that you do not befriend certain people because they have values, ethos, or practices that are against the practices, values, and ethos of your family.
If you disobey your father’s wishes, then you might invite the anger of your father for not behaving in a way that he deems appropriate for your family, and you might also invite the displeasure of other members of your family for being disrespectful to your father.
I personally think that, of these terms, the term “wish” is probably the best way to understand what the Sultan of Selangor’s decree means, because that is the term that gives the most meaningful explanation as to what is going on in this entire controversy.
As to what scope the royalty have in expressing their wishes within our constitutional framework or the framework of the Malaysian Experience, I am not going to comment.
But I am quite convinced that, between the terms advice, guidance, directive, or wishes, the best way to view a royal “titah” is as a wish or desire, in the same way that your father or mother might sometimes express their wishes or desires to you, to dictate your behaviour, choices or action
If you look at it from that point of view, what is going on in this controversy involving the Selangor palace and some personalities from DAP will become much more clear and meaningful to you.
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