Military armed with desire to protect democracy

NO INTERVENTION: The Malaysian armed forces stay out of politics and respect the rule of law

LAST month, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it had never crossed the prime minister's mind to use military officers from all three services to secure a Barisan Nasional win in the 13th general election.

He was responding to former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's statement linking Datuk Seri Najib Razak and senior military officials to the election outcome.

In many developing countries, the military has the propensity to interfere in politics and affairs of government, which are best left to those holding political power.

Before the consolidation of democratic rule, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines were ruled for decades by military regimes. In Myanmar, after nearly five decades in power, the military finally agreed to facilitate the country's return to democracy.

The crowd in Cairo's Tahrir Square forced down a regime propped up by the military that had their men in important political positions.

In Pakistan, the military did not hide the fact that if and when a civilian government failed, it would step in.

Turkey, another ex-military regime, returned to civilian rule that would conform to European democratic ideals. Still, in many post-military regime countries, the prospect and the fear of a military come-back is never too far away.

Why is Malaysia an exception to this norm? Its military has no tradition of involvement in politics and has never shown interest in acquiring political power, even in times when conditions would have favoured it.

The Malaysian Armed Forces simply believes that it is not their business to get involved in politics.

They are more comfortable focusing on the essence of what it has been trained and tasked to do: defend the king and country.

Others say the military's non-involvement in politics is a legacy inherited from the British.

If so, how can one explain active military involvement in politics in some ex-British colonies, such as Uganda, Pakistan and Myanmar?

Malaysia may not be a perfect democracy, but there is a respect for rule of law and constitutionalism in the country that would deter the military from intervening to straighten things up.

Since the end of World War 2, Malaysia has not known war with another country, except for a period from 1963 to 1966 when Indonesia launched its konfrontasi against Malaysia.

While Indonesians may have their own reasons for wanting to erase this event from their collective memory, Malaysia's preference to forget it may explain its culture of non-glorification of war.

Despite not having to fight wars, Malaysia went through a period of defending itself militarily during the communist insurgency. Here, the military played its role as the defender of the nation's territorial integrity and security.

But it was also tasked with performing non-military duties, such as building roads, schools, and houses in rural areas, minus political ambition and urge. This tradition continues.

Externally, the armed forces lent its service to other causes and in other aspects.

Since its first involvement in the United Nations Peace-keeping Operations in Congo in 1960, Malaysia has sent its troops abroad under similar missions to Somalia, Bosnia, Angola, and Cambodia.

The armed forces is in a privileged position to serve the nation. Its commander-in-chief is the king. Among the values understood in the armed froces is loyalty. A rebellion or coup against the state, of which the king is the head, would be seen as disloyal to an institution it is tasked to protect and to obey.

In Malaysia, there is a consensus that the military has been and remains under civilian state supervision, exercised through its agents.

This may provide a disincentive for the military to look to coups to affect political change.

More often than not, it is the civilian political master and the public servant who set the rule, with the military its obedient servant.

In some countries, the military is allocated seats in Parliament. But the Malaysian military does not enjoy such privilege. It can always join politics after leaving the service.

Are there reasons to believe that the military is interested in politics or acquiring political power? The armed forces is aware that its role and position in the nation is best secured by sticking to its core business of defending the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity and remaining true to its tradition of non-involvement in politics.

As some jokingly comment, they would rather use their spare time to play golf than indulge in political intrigues.

Since its first involvement in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Congo in 1960, Malaysia has sent its troops abroad under similar missions to Somalia, Bosnia, Angola and Cambodia.

The armed forces are in a privileged position to serve the nation.

Its commander-in-chief is the king. Among the values understood in the armed forces is loyalty.

A rebellion or coup against the state, of which the king is the head, would be seen as disloyal to an institution it is tasked to protect and to obey.

In Malaysia, there is a consensus that the military has been and remains under civilian state supervision, exercised through its agents.

This may provide a disincentive for the military to look to coups to affect political change.

More often than not, it is the civilian political master and the public servant who set the rule, with the military its obedient servant.

In some countries, the military is allocated seats in Parliament.

But the Malaysian military does not enjoy such privilege. It  can always join politics after leaving the service.

Are there reasons to believe that the  military is interested in politics or acquiring political power? The armed forces are aware that their role and position in the nation are best secured by sticking to their core business of defending the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and remaining true to their tradition of non-involvement in politics.

As some jokingly comment, they would rather use their spare time to play golf than indulge in political intrigues.

The armed forces will fight to preserve constitutionalism.

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