Malaysian rulers’ meeting could make or break government plans

KUALA LUMPUR - Two controversial government plans are slated for discussion at the Conference of Rulers on July 17 and 18, again testing the extent to which Malaysia’s constitutional monarchs will act as arbiters of divisive issues.

The council of state rulers is made up of nine hereditary Malay royals and four governors, who are members without voting rights. During the meeting, they will deliberate on

proposed changes to citizenship laws

, which critics say will leave thousands stateless, and the government’s pick for the third-highest ranking judge in the country.