KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Restoring the lost powers of the Malay Rulers is not the way forward to check alleged excesses by the federal government, two opposition lawmakers said today.

PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and Amanah’s Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa disagreed with calls from both the Johor sultan and former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to return power to the country’s constitutional monarchs to check and balance the ruling coalition.

“Power corrupts and unaccountable power obviously has a higher exposure to corruption,” Rafizi told Malay Mail Online, emphasising that the existing constitutional monarchy system is best for the country.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor wants the Rulers to have more say in passing legislation instead of merely providing their royal assent as is the current practice, after the Mahathir administration effectively stripped them of powers, including their legal immunity.

Zaid, a former Umno minister and ex-PKR leader has also backed the Johor Ruler’s call, saying “some powers” can be restored due to the opposition’s alleged failure to act as an effective check and balance mechanism.

The PKR secretary-general lashed out at Zaid for changing his “framework of reforms”.

“I totally disagree with his view and I think Zaid should make up his mind on what exactly is his framework of thinking to bring reforms to the country, because he seems to be shifting a lot,” the Pandan MP said.

Amanah vice-chairman Mujahid also disagreed with arming the monarchy with powers, saying reforms should be through a democratic process.

“Rulers are non-political, any changes should be done by the aspiration of the rakyat through a democratic process which is political by nature,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

“The Rulers only endorse the people’s choice and remain the supreme protector symbolically and constitutionally,” he added.

He said that Rulers still have the “upper hand” over political parties, without requiring amendments to the Federal Constitution.

“I feel the law that guided the authority of Rulers and the symbols of Rulers can play the role of check-and-balance,” he added.

The DAP declined comment when contacted.