Selangor Sultan slams Dr M

PETALING JAYA: Nine months after being berated by the Johor Sultan for claiming that Malaysia is being sold off to China, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has incurred a similar wrath, this time from the Selangor Sultan.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah issued a stinging rebuke to Dr Mahathir for comparing the Bugis community to pirates during the “Love Malaysia, End Kleptocracy” rally at Padang Timur on Oct 14.

The Selangor Royal Council said in a statement yesterday that the Sultan took a serious view of, was angered by and was very upset at Dr Mahathir’s words, which are seen as trying to incite Malaysians to hate, insult and belittle the Bugis.

The Council also said that an investigation and legal action under the Sedition Act 1948 or any other related law should be carried out against Dr Mahathir.

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Mazlan Mansor has confirmed that they are investigating Dr Mahathir’s statements.

He said two investigation papers had been opened over the remarks – made during the rally, as well as at a talk in Shah Alam on July 17 – after police reports were lodged by members of the public.

“We are investigating the matter under the Sedition Act,” he said, adding that the probe was almost completed.

The Selangor Royal Council statement, issued by its secretary Hanafisah Jais on behalf of the Sultan, said that based on a video clip of the speech which went viral on social media, Dr Mahathir’s allegation clearly insults the Bugis by alleging that they are descended from pirates, thieves and criminals.

“The members of the Selangor Royal Council regard the statement as extremely excessive and can trigger hatred and ill-feelings of the people against the Bugis to the extent that it creates chaos.

“This allegation indirectly insults the ancestry of the Selangor Sultanate which is descended from the Bugis.”

Dr Mahathir had claimed that Malaysia was being led by a prime minister descended from “Bugis pirates”, a dig at Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Council, in its statement, said historical facts prove that the Selangor Sultanate descended from the Bugis, who were warriors who defended Islam and peace throughout the Malay archipelago.

“Tun Dr Mahathir as a former prime minister and who led the country’s administration for 22 years should be more careful in issuing any statement and should be more informed about the historical facts on Bugis ancestry,” it said.

The statement added that the Selangor Sultan reminded all parties, especially politicians, to refrain from ridiculing race and ancestry for political capital because it could jeopardise harmony and unity in the country.

In an exclusive interview with The Star in January, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar accused Dr Mahathir of fear-mongering by playing racial politics that have no place in the southern state.

The Johor Ruler said he was “deeply offended and hurt” by the political spin against mainland China investments in the state.

He singled out Dr Mahathir for “putting political interests above Malaysian interests, particularly Johor.”