13 May, 2008
(NST) 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.
(NST) 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.
Respect for Loyal Opposition Essential for Democracy
The Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) stresses that a loyal opposition is a legitimate and necessary part of any system of democracy, including our constitutional monarchy.
We strongly criticise the threatened use of the Sedition Act 1948 and the leveling of accusations of treason against anyone who has a critical view of our political system, regardless of whether the person is a parliamentarian, a member of the royalty or an ordinary citizen, especially by those who would take offence for purely populist or politically-partisan purposes.
CSI-Parliament stresses that the democratic space for debate and deliberation on issues of national interest is now more important to protect as the country makes its ways through uncharted waters of deeper democratization and more extensive political plurality at the state government level.
The initial sacking of Perak Religious Department Director Datuk Jamry Sury by the Pakatan Rakyat state government, the subsequent order by HRH the Sultan of Perak to reinstate him, and the consequent criticism by Karpal Singh MP of HRH the Sultan of Perak’s order have resulted in different perspectives of the law and constitutional convention brought to public attention.
Let us not forget a similar situation faced by the Barisan Nasional in attempting to nominate its candidates for the post of Menteri Besar in Perlis and Terengganu. Political convention and processes in the latter cases - hitherto taken for granted - were then called into question by many, including Government and Barisan leaders. While at the end of the day there can only be one lawful position on the matter, there must be sufficient room for legitimate public discussion and deliberation of what exactly that position is.
In connection with the new controversy over various statements of Parliamentarian Karpal Singh, CSI-Parliament condemns political manoeuvres which are bent on manipulating a complex though legitimate difference of opinion on constitutional law and the position of the Malay Rulers into a so-called stand-off between the palace and the opposition. Just as dangerous is the attempt by some quarters to portray this incident as a potentially seditious and treasonous questioning of royal prerogatives, and consequently a perceived slighting of the position of one particular community.
CSI-Parliament is confident that wise counsel shall prevail and that the unacceptable attempt by certain parties to take advantage of this situation to promote ill-will and hostility between the races will fail miserably. It is these irresponsible parties who are the real threat to peace and stability in this country.
To ensure an inclusive process of democratization and the liberty to engage in healthy and open debate free from threats of sedition and accusations of treason, CSI-Parliament takes this opportunity to echo the longstanding call by the Bar Council and other civil society organizations to abolish the Sedition Act 1948. More pertinent legislation to bring genuine threats against the public order before the courts of our land is already available in our statute books.
Press Statement issued jointly by:
Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Wong Chin Huat
Edward Lee
Andrew Khoo
Haris Ibrahim
Kuala Lumpur
12 May 2008
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