Not likely on agenda

> Doubtful Conference of Rulers will discuss Citizens’ Declaration, says Ku Nan

PUTRAJAYA: Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said it is unlikely the Conference of Rulers will discuss matters involving the Citizens’ Declaration as it could be deemed as intervening with the administration.

“Earlier, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had stated he will not intervene, despite former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad having an audience with him in Alor Star.

“Let us not forget that we follow the Federal Constitution with a constitutional monarchy and the Conference of Rulers is aware of the law they have to abide by,” he said yesterday.

Tengku Adnan was responding to reports that Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar of PAS had on Sunday urged the Rulers to acknowledge the declaration.

The 242nd Conference of Rulers will be held from today until Oct 14.

The annual conference is being held to select the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah’s fiveyear term would be ending soon.

Last week, Mahathir said his attempt to convince the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to act on the declaration had failed.

Mahathir, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, also said the declaration had been screened and 500,000 signatures had been removed from it, leaving only 1.2 million signatures.

On another matter, Tengku Adnan said Barisan Nasional does not agree with 30% of the proposed redelineation of electoral boundaries by the Election Commission.

He said among the factors were voter distribution that was too race-based, boundaries that were way too far and polling centres removed from parliamentary constituencies.

He cited the proposed redelineation in Sabah, where 10 proposed new seats were represented by certain races.