JUSTICE AS THE CORE LEADERSHIP OF THE MALAY KINGS: FROM TRADITIONAL TO CONTEMPORARY ERA

This study discusses the concept of justice in the leadership of the Malay rulers which became the focus of discussion of traditional Malay state administration works. It makes the traditional Malay state administration works very important as a forum for the formation of human civilization to produce fair leader in fulfilling its responsibilities as a caliph of God and thus His servants on earth. To analyse the concept of justice of the Malay rulers during the era of tradition, the data studied involves the traditional Malay state administration works generated or copied from the 15th to the 19th century including Taj al-Salatin, Bustan al-Salatin, Kitab Nasihat Raja-Raja, and Thamarat al-Muhimmah. Analysis of the concept of justice of the Malay rulers in the contemporary era is based on the Malaysian Constitution. This study applies SyedMuhammad Naquib Al-Attas’s (2001) framework on adab. The study demonstrates thattraditional Malay literature has played the important role of generating knowledge towards producing a noble, well-balanced individual, spiritually and physically, in this world and the hereafter. Traditional Malay literature is apparently conceived by its readership as providing enlightening principles in seeking for a guided relationship both with their Creator (hablumminallah) and fellow human beings (hablumminannas) as well as explicating the divine purposes of every living human being in this world to become His vicegerent and servant. The principle of justice is perpetuated by the Malay rulers in the contemporary era.