Royal Commissions or Royal Con-missions

According to Wikipedia,

A Royal Commission (RC) is created by the Head of State (Sovereign, Governor-General or Governor) on the advice of the Government and formally appointed by Letters Patent. In practice—unlike lesser forms of inquiry—once a Commission has started the government cannot stop it. Consequently governments are usually very careful about framing the Terms of Reference and generally include in them a date by which the commission must finish.

Royal Commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions.

In BolehLand the past RCs were

- Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Clip (2009)
- Royal Commission for Police Reform (2004)
- Royal Commission to investigate alleged injuries suffered by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody (1999)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry into the fire at the Bright Sparklers factory in Sungai Buloh New Village (1991)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate a fire at Sekolah Agama Rakyat Taufikah al-Halimah in Padang Lumat, Yan, Kedah (1989)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry on the collapse of the upper deck of the Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth (1988)
- Royal Commission on the Teaching Services (1971)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia (1968)
- Royal Commission on Salaries and Conditions of Service of the Public Service (1965)

Of late, there seems in BolehLand for the slightest of issue, there is a hue and cry for a Royal Commission ((RC) of sorts.

The latest is on the RMAF and the missing jet engines. Not to be upstaged by this is the one on the former ole sage Tun M for multi billion ringgit squander. Another for racial and religious tolerance.

Besides that, there were requests for Inquests on murders most foul such as the TBH case, the c-4ed Mongolian lass, 'accidental' weedkiller death of former tv star, billion ringgit scandals such as PKFZ, even on the use of English for Maths and Science and a whole lot of issues that are considered a 'scandal' at least to the opposition and NGOs.

Rarely do we find the pro government groups advocating for an RC. Which means, they either see nothing wrong with what had happened or think it's just one of those ordinary days in BolehLand. Or are they afraid it will unveil the web of deceit, wrongdoings and dirt that is connected with their leaders or on themselves too!

If RCs and inquests are going to be formed now and then, don't be surprised there will be more of these than say the Ministries in the government.

It shows there is lack of adherence to a high level of corporate governance, transparency and ethical practices in the government institutions! Are the government leaders, officials and even the civil servant all adopting a 'couldn't care less attitude' and hope mistakes and hiccups will just go away and the taxpayers will just accept it as what government is all about?

Or accept that all natural disasters are an act of God? Definitely not my God who does not punish guilty fellos by killing innocent ones! If at all my God wants to punish anyone, the tragedy should befall those who caused it to happen in the first place!

Crooks in BolehLand seem to get an escape of God's punishment while the innocent ordinary folks get hauled up for the slightest whimsical reason by the 'soldiers of God' in the form of religious fellos who seem more interested in sins of ordinary folks like drinking or their clothings, even their R&R activities than high collar or high office wrong doings!

Even with the forming of RCs or inquests, there is no guarantee that justice will see the light of day. The RC on the Lingam tapes and even the Police on improving its image each has finished its work. Has there been a serious attempt to implement the advice of these RCs?

For the Lingam case, it's considered closed as there is no evidence! Which means the judiciary is as pure as the first fallen snow including the blizzards affecting Europe! It also means the decision is like shafting a 'lingam' up our derriere telling us 'up yours' for thinking the judiciary has been compromised and 'tainted'

Since the case is closed, does it make BolehLand folks now think the judiciary is anymore cleaner, fairer or have judges they perceived as people of integrity, impartial and really sit on the bench without fear or favour?!

If there is a need to set up RCs and the findings point to the fault of person or persons, the salary of those 'guilty' ones should be reduced in relation to the cost of setting up the RCs and the end of its lifespan. In fact, the salary of all those who were supposed to do their work and didn't do it to cause the tragedy to happen and the RC to be called should all have their salary deducted to pay for the cost of the RC! That way, leaders will be reminded they can t screw up anyone's lives for their incompetencies and lack of ownership and responsibility for the mess or tragedy they create!

What's the point of RCs if their recommendations are not carried out? If the RC is appointed by Her Majesty, it would mean there must be weight in what they do and recommend right? Don't their advice is equivalent to by the 'Order of His Majesty'? If their recommendations are not carried out, does it mean that there is disrespect and disloyalty, committing 'treason' against His Majesty?

If no such relationship exists, then why call it 'Royal' at all? And if nothing comes out of the RC, then the disobedience makes it a rather 'Disloyal Royal Commission' because noone gives the hoot what those RC members say right?

If past RCs have been just to appease the anger and frustrations of the citizens, what's the point of even setting one up if nothing comes out of the findings!

Even if the verdict vindicates the government while the recommendations are ignored, does it mean that everything the RC recommend is merely as they say 'academic' and can be rejected as well?

Besides RC's there have also been no shortage of White Papers being done. And with the RCs they remain as 'white elephants' too! All hype and hardly substance that will elevate the government and the nation to a higher level of competence, accountability and what have you.

If RCs don't bring about any change or betterment of what they were supposed to address, like the Lingam case, might as well call it a Royal Con-mission, as in the eyes of the public it's really a con job to try appear to be on the side of justice by setting up one, only to discard it after it has finished its work!

If the RCs and White Papers have served their purpose to effect change, they should be a reduction in the scandals and alarming incidences happening in BolehLand lately. Especially so, post GE12! But have things really improved?

Is it like a Murphy law thingy that bad things seem to happen at the wrong time particularly for the BN government post GE12!? Or is it that BolehLand folks are being more mature and have enough of 50 over years of seeing the same hogwash used as whitewash to cover up the decay and rot seemingly in the government!

Will an RC on Tun M's supposedly billion ringgit 'waste' or even the missing jet engines bring those responsible to justice?

Does the government have the courage to be on the side of justice than blood or party affiliation to charge a former head of state? Does even calling for such a probe tantamount to 'sedition' or become a racial issue? Will the BN government especially UMNO start a clampdown on all those who call for such a probe?

Will UMNO behave like what they did when their ex No2 was sacked! Or will we see them taking on a different stance now as it involved their former No1?

Time will tell on what UMNO fellos reaction will be against those who is calling for an RC probe. But except UMNO to take a united stand to kill any attempt to have a RC.

It's suicide to even think of agreeing to an RC, because of the 'you scratch my back I scratch your back' bond ever so strong in the UMNO family at least if you are on the side of those wielding the power!

Supposed, given the change agenda, there is a possibility of an RC to probe former No1, it may turn out to be 'you scratched at my wound, i'll scratch your back till your ugly wounds show too!

Perhaps one on the missing jet should be set up to find out the extent of internal security threat happening in our armed forces. That way, the next Auditor General report may not again show that the screw and nuts still cost like the tag of the missing jet engines!