More unhappiness is lashed out against Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) and the act of illegal assemblies and streets demonstrations. Now, HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Sultan of Selangor too expressed his deep dissatisfaction on HINDRAF’s action to cause instability in the country by stirring up racial and religious fury amongst the rakyat.
On top of the official statement issued by Istana Negara on 16 November 2007, against the rumours spread about HM SPB YDP Agong’s ‘perkenan’ of the 10 November illegal assembly and march, organized by BERSIH (in the guise of Oppositions’ political agenda), HRH Sultan of Pahang and HRH Raja Muda of Perak also made specific call in their titah, on the matter.
The Star has the story, this morning:
Saturday December 8, 2007
Sultan of Selangor unhappy at Hindraf’s action
SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor has voiced his unhappiness at the actions of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which he said has incited hatred and damaged the country’s image by taking its campaign overseas.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said he was “upset and angry” that Hindraf had proceeded with its illegal protest in defiance of the police and causing disruption to many in Kuala Lumpur.
He was also unhappy at the action of the Hindraf supporters in carrying banners and pictures of Queen Elizabeth II during the recent protests, which drew thousands of people.
“Why were they displaying her pictures and asking her to intervene in Malaysia? They can always bring their case to the Government and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said in an interview at the Istana Mastika here.
The Tuanku also hit out at Hindraf leaders for claiming that “ethnic cleansing” occurred in Malaysia, saying that it was an outrageous claim, which had damaged Malaysia’s image.
“I am disappointed with what Hindraf has done. I am upset. There are better ways of doing things. To stage a protest and fight with the police, I cannot accept. This is not the way to do things in Malaysia,” he said.
The Sultan, who is celebrating his 62nd birthday on Tuesday, urged his subjects to be rational and moderate, saying that racial tolerance has always been a trademark of Malaysia.
He acknowledged that there were problems affecting Malaysians of all races and not just one particular ethnic group, adding that people must learn from the country’s history.
“Not all Indians are Hindraf supporters. I hope they will speak up against such illegal protests and dissociate themselves from Hindraf,” he said.
The Tuanku also hit out at the organisers of the recent Bersih protest, which drew thousands of demonstrators, saying that he could not accept illegal gatherings and that the law must be respected.
Bersih is a loose coalition of opposition parties including PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat and non-governmental organisations, which has demanded free elections.
The Sultan said Malaysia was not like some countries, where there were no democratic avenues, including elections, and that it was wrong for any Malaysian to emulate the protests there.
On the awards for his birthday, he said that no more than 40 Datukships would be given each year, except during special occasions, adding that “if too many are given out, it would lose its prestige”.
He said the state government would also launch a website on Thursday to enable the public to verify the awards and check on the background of Selangor Datuks.
The Sultan said he believed that the titles from the state were valuable and he did not want anyone to claim that their Datukships were from Selangor if they were not.
“The names would be listed in stages. We will start off with recipients between 2000 and 2007 and then we will work on those between 1999 and 1960,” he said, adding that it would take time but he was determined to implement it.
So many calls by so many quarters, invoking the use of stern and decisive action against quarters who vehemently defied law such as HINDRAF but the Government and authorities have been so ‘slow and soft’ in their approach of handling these illegal assemblies and street demonstrations, which could cause serious political instability, communal and economic repercussions for the country and rakyat.
HRH Sultan Selangor’s call, on top of HRH Sultan of Pahang’s and HRH Raja Muda of Perak’s reassures the rakyat’s demand that action be taken against HINDRAF and further illegal assemblies and street demonstrations be allowed to carry on and some lawyers’ call to act against what they classify as ‘treason’.
Daulat Tuanku!
[…] by different quarters urging the authorities to make decisive decisions and act sternly, including HRH Sultan of Selangor, against people who are defiant of […]
[…] He is an avid sportsman , who ventured into global sailing (1995-1996) and the much acclaimed “Peking to Paris Challenge” in 1997. Recently HRH Sultan Sharafuddin made a stern call against the extremist militant group HINDRAF. […]
[…] Last week, 397 NGOs representing all facets of the rakyat within the society converged in Kuala Lumpur to detest the extremism and violence illegal assemblies and street demonstrations. That came after a leading defense lawyer Zainur Zakaria and some Muslim lawyers who called the HINDRAF leaders and activists as ‘extremists militants’ and should be severly dealt with, just like Al Maunah, KMM and the Communist Terrorists. The strong critiscism even drew HRH Sultan Selangor to hit out against HINDRAF. […]