KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh maintained yesterday that he had not questioned the prerogative of the Sultan of Perak.

He said his statements concerning the Sultan's power to revoke the transfer of a state civil servant was purely a legal issue.

Karpal said he was not perturbed over the numerous police reports lodged against him.

"I have committed no offence and those making reports against me should be prepared to face the consequences of lodging false reports," he said at a press conference here yesterday.

"I will not be intimidated by anyone or any quarter.
"I stand by what I have said because the truth must prevail at all times" the Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament said.

Karpal said he had in no way questioned the prerogative of the Sultan of Perak as head of Islam in the state.

He reiterated that in his view the Sultan had no jurisdiction to direct the state government to reinstate Perak Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Jamry Sury, who was a state government servant.

He said that in Pengarah Pelajaran Wilayah Persekutuan & Others v Loot Ting Yee, the Federal Court decided that a civil servant liable to transfer did not have a right to be heard as a transfer does not amount to dismissal or reduction in rank.

The principles in the decision applied equally to state civil servants, Karpal said.

"I fail to understand why there has been such an uproar on what is purely a legal issue backed by the Privy Council in London, which was until 1985, the highest court in Malaysia."

He threatened legal action against those who made defamatory remarks against him regarding the issue.

In George Town, DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng defended Karpal, saying the party chairman was merely stating a case in law and had done nothing wrong.

He instead accused Barisan Nasional leaders of taking a selective approach and practising double standards.

Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat said he would leave it to the leadership of the DAP and PKR to address the issue.

He said the Malay members of PKR always respected the palace.

"The issue should not be politicised. It is best for the Perak government and palace to resolve the issue," Mohammad Fairus said.