There are Malaysians who will become important opinion-makers in the country as it goes down the road not travelled before. Not all of them are in the Cabinet, or even politicians. The Malaysian Insider will feature a few individuals who we believe will shape how Malaysians think and feel about this country.

See related story: Raja Nazrin to Malaysia's leaders yesterday - Learn from history why leaders fall

Raja Nazrin Shah

SOME Malaysians believe that the best candidate to lead this country did not contest the elections.

Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, the erudite, urbane Regent of Perak has won the support of many with his common touch and willingness to speak candidly on a range of delicate issues which have troubled Malaysians over the past few years.

In 2006, just after a clutch of Umno politicians spooked the country with their sabre-rattling speeches at the party’s general assembly, the Oxford and Harvard-educated Raja Nazrin provided the balm with his sensible comments, reminding all that race relations was not a zero-sum game and scolding the irresponsible loose-cannons.

By touching on all these topics, he was giving voice to anxieties felt by non-Malays over the encroachment of Syariah laws into their lives, creeping Islamisation, racial polarisation and the nagging feeling that Indians and Chinese were becoming second-class citizens in their own land.

In the absence of any other leaders speaking on these topics so passionately, he became the spokesman of all Malaysians. This is what he said:

On the constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and guarantees the rights of every Malaysian. Get a copy of the Federal Constitution and read it, he advised young Malaysians.

“The integrity of that document must be protected at all cost," he said to applause at the first Malaysian Student Leaders Summit 2007 on March 20, 2008.

On race relations

Some groups bear grudges against what is perceived as preferential treatment. Others regard preferential treatment as their indisputable right. Matters of faith, he said, were becoming topics of immense controversy. "They promote over-zealousness and coercive action, and drive Malaysians further and further away from each other. Our diversity was meant to be our unique asset."

Good governance

Only those who are capable, responsible and scrupulously honest should be allowed to serve in positions of leadership. Those who are inefficient, incompetent and, most importantly, corrupt, should be held in absolute contempt. It was very important, he added, to have leaders who were earnest in building unity and did not resort to religious or ethnic posturing to further their careers.

Role models

He said: "Tun Dr Ismail was an exemplary Malaysian. He envisaged a Malaysia for all without colour lines, without ethnic borders and without any one group feeling a sense of inferiority. He recognised the importance of open-mindedness in addressing day-to-day issues and problems; the importance of listening and learning from others, particularly from those who are more advanced. He put his country above himself and served till the very last day of his life."

As Ooi Kee Beng, a fellow at the Institute of South East Asian Studies (Iseas) noted in an article: “In a country where royalty is often silent, a vocal prince speaking about issues that interest the general public has been more than welcomed. The approach the prince has developed over the last few months strikes a chord with many, even leading an Opposition leader to request that he be made adviser to the prime minister.’’

Not all politicians were pleased with his high-profile and thought-provoking speeches. Some of them started a whispering campaign and even sent messages through intermediaries asking that Raja Nazrin stay clear of hot-button issues. But what the ruling coalition did not realise was that the royalty had begun to sense that doubt and restlessness had begun to rent space in the minds of Malaysians.

They knew that a growing band of middle-class Malaysians was looking for answers and salvation. The royalty just seemed to have the conviction to play that role. That probably explains why the Malay Rulers Conference intervened and blocked the Prime Minister’s choice for the Chief Justice, knowing that the institution needed a man of integrity at the helm.

Since then, Raja Nazrin has moved beyond speech-making.

Just after the Opposition took control of Perak on March 8, he played the role of kingmaker, sorting out the power-sharing agreement which saw a PAS candidate being named the Mentri Besar and others from the DAP-PKR-PAS alliance agreeing to a formula for state executive council seats.

The reason for his intervention was simple: he wanted to ensure that this coalition did not fall prey to petty politics a few months down the road. There is every possibility that he will “get involved’’ if the state executive council falters. When that happens, it would take a brave man to chastise him.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s knee-jerk reaction to tell DAP assemblymen to boycott the swearing-in ceremony during talks over the Menteri Besar’s position invited an avalanche of criticism in cyberspace. This reaction forced him to issue an apology to Raja Nazrin, and accept the reality that in a Malaysia where the centre is not as strong as it was, individuals like the Regent of Perak are going to matter more than ever. They will be the bedrock of certainty and clarity in uncertain times.