Royals in business: A primer

Strong political leadership may help balance the odds but that is in short supply.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, everyone. Hope you guys burped your way to good food and had much-needed downtime.

You’re reading a subscriber-only post of The Malaysianist, the newsletter covering the intersection of business and politics by me, journalist Emmanuel Samarathisa.

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Today’s issue covers the prickly topic of 👑 royals in business, the legal limits around the subject and a sample of an extraordinary business arrangement fit for a king.

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Once in a while we’ll come across a news article or bourse filing on royal involvement in business.

The monarchs are a mainstay in Malaysian society and their influence is far-reaching, including the corporate sphere.

What complicates their involvement in business is not only the deference and privileges accorded to them, including public funding, but the many hats they juggle at one time, while being ruler or either state or country.

Furthermore, since 2018, the royal institution has taken on a more activist stance, asserting their authority in policy and politics at state and federal levels. So a discussion is warranted and we’ll begin with the Federal Constitution.