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“The New Age of The Kings” terbitan terkini UIM dengan
kerjasama Dr. Paridah Abd Samad, pemenang “Author of The

National Library’s Best Book of The Year 2010”

The New Age of The Kings |
Traditionally, people generally view the
royal rulers as great and sacred. All affairs
pertaining to the people’s everyday life
is centralized on the King as a symbol of
power and unity. Today, most constitutional
monarchies are still reflected as the centre
of society.

Malaysia has the only system that is uniquely
federal autochthonous, elective and
rotative. The existence of the constitutional
monarchy in Malaysia is closely related to,
and in line with the development of the
Malay civilization. The different ethnic
communities in Malaysia have consented
to the existence of the constitutional
monarchy as an extension of the Malay
tradition into the political system.

As an elective monarchy, the supreme head
of state or Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected
for a five-year term by a Conference of
Rulers who hold a secret ballot. Therefore,
unlike many other monarchies, it is difficult to remain popular and secure loyalty in view of the rotating order
of the system. In fact, many young Malaysians are no longer interested in the affairs pertaining to royalty.

However, with the emergence of educated and dynamic members of the royal family, the modern role for the
Malay rulers beyond the passive and formal constitutional head of state is being re-defined. They have stepped
up their vocal involvement in civil society, without entering the political fray directly. This phenomenon is
seen all around the world as both monarchs and the people examine the past in order to delineate a new,
modern purpose of Kingship in the 21st century.

The background and current situation of the Malaysian monarchy is unparalleled in respect of constitutional
monarchies around the world. However, the power, roles and effects of these monarchies are comparable.
This book represents a snapshot synopsis of modern monarchies both in Malaysia and around the world.

About The Author | Born in Muar, Johor, the The author wrote her first book; ‘Domestic Variables of Japan’s
author graduated with a degree in Journalism from Commitments in Southeast Asia’, published by the Institute of
the University of Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia. Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. Subsequent
She later obtained her Master’s degree and PhD in books include political biographies of Malaysian Prime Ministers
International Studies from the University of Reading Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Abdullah Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib, which
and University of Birmingham in the United won the ‘National Library’s Best book of the Year 2010’. She has also
Kingdom, respectively. Since then, her research written Indonesian profiles on General Wiranto and President Gus
interests have focused on ASEAN and Japan studies, which have Dur. Her most recent political biography was about Dato’ Onn Jaafar,
led to a number of published articles and paper presentations at the father of Malay Nationalism and founder of UMNO.
international conferences.
After almost twenty years of writing, the author decided to compile
She was awarded the Fulbright Scheme as a Visiting Scholar the profiles of monarchies in the world, a diversion from in-depth
attached to the University of California, Berkeley. She was so also analysis of political profiles to expand the genre of readers who
a Visiting Fellow at the University of Hull, England. Subsequently prefer light reading as well. The persuasion to embark on writing in
she was awarded a Visiting Research Fellowship (ASEAN Fellowship particular of the Malaysian rulers is to expose their profiles as well
Programme) under the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), as increase the awareness of the positive roles of monarchies in
Tokyo. The author taught political science in University Teknologi different parts of the world in a non-comparative analysis which are
Mara (UiTM) and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). however, comparable to the ones we have in Malaysia.