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©New Straits Times
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR: Karpal Singh, member of parliament for Bukit Gelugor, said it was
not he who had been disrespectful to sultans but Umno.
Debating the royal address in Parliament yesterday, he said
he did not understand why he had been labelled treasonous and seditious when in
1993 Umno led a constitutional amendment to clip the powers of rulers.
He said in 1984 he had highlighted in the House alleged wrongdoings by the then
Tengku Mahkota of Johor.
In 1987, when the Sultan of Selangor declared that no amnesty would be given to
those found guilty of distributing drugs in the state, Karpal filed a case
against him.
"Both times, no one said I was being treasonous or seditious. Now, 20 police
reports have been lodged against me, including one by Umno secretary-general
Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the behest of the prime minister."
Reiterating that he had not challenged the power of the
Sultan of Perak as head of Islam and Malay customs, Kar-pal said he had only
stated that the ruler had no right to direct the menteri besar to withdraw the
transfer order given to state Religious Department director Datuk Jamry Sury.
Karpal's speech did not go down well with Razali Ibra-him, member of parliament
for Muar, who cited standing orders and requested the chair to stop Karpal's
speech.
Razali said: "He should not be allowed to go on as his statement was made
without filing an emergency motion. This is not an appropriate forum to talk
about it. As for the police reports, wait for the police to finish their
investigations."
After being advised by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, Karpal said
Terengganu state exco member Da-tuk Rosol Wahid and 22 assemblymen initially did
not agree with the sultan's choice of menteri besar.
"Doesn't their action constitute a challenge to the sultan? Will the government
take action against them? If not, doesn't this constitute double standards? Why
am I being victimised?" he said.
Audience with Perak sultan may be the 'solution'
PETALING JAYA: Karpal Singh should have sought an audience with the Sultan of
Perak to allay the accusations of sedition against him, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
said.
"Generally, the Malays and non-Malays have the position that
one should seek an audience to settle the matter amicably," the de facto Parti
Keadilan Rakyat leader said.
"In this country, the constitutional monarchy is an institution to be respected
and we have to mind the Rulers' position and sovereignty," he said at a press
conference here yesterday.
He added that Karpal, the MP for Bukit Gelugor and DAP chairman, had clarified
his position and said that he did not intend to "disrespect the Constitution and
the Sultan of Perak".
Karpal had allegedly questioned the powers of Sultan Azlan Shah over the
reinstatement of State Religious Department head Datuk Jamry Sury less than
three days after he was transferred by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar
Jamaluddin.
Anwar also urged the Royal Commission report on the Lingam
video clip to be made public.
He said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should stop speculating on
the "hidden agendas" behind the video clip.
"He should refrain and be more remorseful. This report will be viewed by the
public and he should not be saying things as if he was still the prime
minister."
On Sunday, Dr Mahathir had alleged that Anwar had exposed the recording in order
to discredit Datuk V. K. Lingam.
The lawyer is counsel for Dr Mahathir in a defamation suit brought by Anwar.
Anwar repeated yesterday that he had enough Barisan Nasional defectors in hand
for Pakatan Rakyat to form the government.
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Circular No 304/2008
