Hadi, PKR's Hassan out of line with remarks about Rulers, says Umno Youth

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth has taken PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and PKR's Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim to task over their respective statements on the royal institution.

The movement's leader Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the cynical remark by Abdul Hadi about a recent speech by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah bordered on being uncouth and disrespectful.

He also said Hassan's comment – that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia had "crossed the line" in the royal address at the opening of the latest Parliament meeting – went against Malay tradition.

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"We are always respectful and courteous when voicing our views to the Malay Rulers," Muhamad Akmal said in a statement on Friday (March 1).

"I am sure the (intentions) of His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Sultan were to ensure that harmony, stability and unity are safeguarded and that focus is given to development.

"I am also confident that the Rulers are knowledgeable and wise, and receive the best advice and views on the Constitution and in keeping with their roles as the guardians of Islam," he added.

Muhamad Akmal said Umno Youth strongly opposed any action or statement that disrespected the royal institution and would not hesitate to reprimand the individuals or parties responsible.

"We also urge the enactment of a law to control any action that is uncouth or tantamount to treason against the royal institution in line with the principles of the Rukun Negara," he added.

Abdul Hadi received a royal rebuke from Sultan Sharafuddin in a letter dated Tuesday (Feb 27) over a statement titled Ketinggian Islam wajib dipertahankan (Islam’s supremacy must be defended), which appeared to target religious scholars, lawyers, judges, MPs, assemblymen and the Malay Rulers.

The Marang MP had said the Rulers "need to look at the needs of the afterlife and not worldly interests".

The letter, signed by the Ruler’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said Abdul Hadi's remark was "inappropriate and ill-mannered from a Malay cultural perspective".

Abdul Hadi’s social media outburst came after the Federal Court had struck out 16 criminal provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (1) 2019 on Feb 9.

Sultan Sharafuddin, the chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), had called for all Malaysians to respect the court’s decision and uphold the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the nation.

Hassan's comments, meanwhile, were in response to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim's statement on Monday (Feb 26) that any attempt to jeopardise the nation's political stability would not be entertained.

"If anyone wants to play politics, wait for the next election," said His Majesty.