‘RESPECT SULTAN’S FEELINGS, STOP HAVING DR M AT OFFICIAL SELANGOR FUNCTIONS’
Selangor govt must not turn a blind eye to Bugis remark, say BN assemblymen
TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad must not be invited to participate in any official programme sponsored by the state or party, Selangor Barisan Nasional told the state legislative assembly yesterday.
The BN assemblymen said the state government should share the same sentiment as the Selangor Royal Court, instead of turning a blind eye to the insult levelled against the Bugis community, including Selangor royalty.
This comes following a statement from the Selangor Council of the Royal Court, which said that Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, was incensed with the former prime minister for his derogatory remarks against the Bugis community.
Kuang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Shukur Idrus accused the state government of turning a blind eye to the incident where Dr Mahathir had called the Bugis community pirates, robbers and criminals.
“The Royal Court had stated that the sultan deems the speech extreme and could spark hate and prejudice against the Bugis, causing riots and chaos. Selangor government should have taken this into consideration. There is a need to stop inviting Dr Mahathir and to prevent him from attending any programmes, events or activities held in Selangor,” he said.
Present were BN assemblymen Datuk Mat Nadzari Mat Dahlan (Batang Kali), Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Razak (Permatang), Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz (Semenyih), Shahrum Mohd Sharif (Dengkil) and Halimaton Saadiah Bohan (Kota Damansara).
Shukur said he was also disappointed with Speaker Hannah Yeoh, who dismissed an emergency motion presented on Dr Mahathir’s statement, on the grounds that it was not a matter of urgency.
“When a motion of importance to the public is denied, it simply proves that democracy is dead in the Selangor state legislative assembly under the Pakatan Harapan leadership,” he said.
He said BN assemblymen would present a memorandum to the palace tomorrow to express their support to the sultan and defend the royal institution.
On Nov 2, the Royal Court said the sultan was angered and disappointed with Dr Mahathir’s remarks made at the “Sayangi Malaysia, Hapuskan Kleptokrasi” rally organised by Pakatan Harapan in Petaling Jaya on Oct 14.
The sultan had reminded the public, especially politicians, not to turn race and ancestry issues into political tools as this could undermine the harmony and unity of the people.
The sultan was angered, the Royal Court said, because insults against the Bugis community directly called into question the lineage of the Selangor royalty because it had Bugis ancestry.
It was reported that members of the council, after meeting the ruler, were of the view that a sedition probe against Dr Mahathir was warranted.
Several police reports have been lodged over the issue as the Bugis community in Malaysia took offence.
Dr Mahathir’s remarks have also caused consternation overseas, with several Indonesian leaders, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla most recently, expressing disgust and demanding an apology.