A POST on X (formerly Twitter) by Imran Bard (@imemerang) which shares a video of a wedding party featuring royal guests and no small number of Caucasian attendees has invited some very controversial comments.
It questions the fondness of the royal families to have European spouses and whether in 30-40 years’ time, Malay rulers would be “Raja Mat Salleh”.
This prickly suggestion has invited plenty of comments with the clip of the majlis kenduri kahwin generating a whopping 3.8 million views at time of writing.
Video ni lalu FYP imran and i genuinely wanted to know kerabat diraja memang ramai mat salleh eh? Ke memang raja kita ade darah mat salleh? And is it possible in 30/40 tahun akan datang Mat salleh jadi raja? pic.twitter.com/SvGkDb9d4b
— Imran Bard (@imemerang) July 4, 2024
It must be said at the very outset that the premise of the argument is flawed. The role of Malay royalty is to safeguard the traditions, customs and values of the Malay people. There is no obligation to maintain purity of bloodline.
Isn’t it more important that these “mix-bloods” adhere to the Malay way of life and present an image that is acceptable by the rakyat? What is the point of maintaining a “pure bloodline” if the lifestyle is very contrary to Malay values, customs and traditions?
It must be pointed out that such notions of “racial purity” are not only outmoded in this day and age but who royals marry are nobody’s business but their own, not least when it comes to the DNA of the chosen spouse.
Many of the comments accompanying Imran Bard’s post displayed a hitherto unheard-of bravado when commenting on anything related to royalty in the past. Perhaps the anonymity of social media has emboldened some to express such views.
Imran Bard’s post was shared by Zee Zaki (@_zxezki) who pointed to the hypocrisy of those espousing the concept of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) when so many politicians and royal figures send their kids to swanky international schools and marry outside their race.
She further contends that this has led to a situation where many of the offspring of these Malay VVIPs can barely grasp the basics of the national language.
Her post which has been viewed 1.7 million times at the time of writing elicited many similar comments as to those on Imran Bard’s original post.
This promoted one netizen even to quote Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (or TMJ as he is popularly known) who prides himself as being able to uphold the Malay traditions, customs and values despite his bloodline – unlike some children of VVIPs who return home with Mat Salleh accents.
Highlighting this issue of being able to converse fluently in Malay, one netizen cheekily used the image of UMNO Youth rabble rouse Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, wondering what the Melaka state assemblyman would have to say about this issue.
Although it has been highlighted by a few netizens that the video was not a royal wedding but where royalty was invited guests, few pertinent issues are raised by the above posts.
Firstly, the age of social media has certainly emboldened netizens to voice their views on once previously off-limit subjects.
The relative anonymity afforded by these platforms have allowed citizens to express their displeasure – rightly or wrongly – at a group previously cocooned from criticism.
It will be interesting to see how the authorities react to the above posts and especially the more incendiary of comments with a republican-slant which FocusM will not share here.
Secondly, with Malaysian’s ability to speak the national language a political hot potato, it is only fair that such expectations be applied to the ruling elite, especially those who harp on the ketuanan Melayu concept.
Thirdly, as highlighted above, maintaining purity of bloodlines is NOT one of the duties of royal households.
Comparisons can be made to the British royal family when Prince Harry decided to marry a woman of African-American descent. There were plenty of Mat Salleh who frowned on the union and certain mainstream media barely disguised its racist attitudes.
Regardless of what one thinks of that royal couple, many will agree that such blatant racism is unacceptable.
Hence, the notion of that Malay royalty is entrusted to keep the bloodline “pure” is misplaced. One netizen’s comment hit the nail on the head. – July 8, 2024
Main image credit: Britain’s Prince Harry who marries commoner Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’ via AP
