Ultimate allegiance is to the rakyat

Loyalty, patriotism and self-determination are crucial aspects of every individual called upon to provide service to the country, what more the burden placed upon a leader.

THE Omar Series is a marvellous show I was introduced to during Ramadan which portrayed the life and times of Omar al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam. A scene which captivated my attention was where Omar had to make the difficult decision of deposing Khalid al-Walid, who, according to Wikipe­dia, was responsible for the conquest of Persian Mesopotamia, Arabia and Roman Syria. He was a soldier and general so renowned that his peer is difficult for the history of heroism to produce.