KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday that he had instructed Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to lodge a police report against DAP chairman Karpal Singh for making allegedly seditious remarks about the Sultan of Perak. The prime minister and Umno president said Karpal's questioning of Sultan Azlan Shah's prerogative as the state's head of religion had angered many, including non-Malays. "It was seditious and insulting to the Sultan, that is how it is seen in the eyes of the rakyat," he said after opening the Fifth Malaysian International Halal Showcase here. Abdullah said it was as if the Bukit Gelugor MP was ignorant of the Sultan's scope of duties. "Many Malaysians, including those from Umno and also the non-Malays are upset with his statement. "I have been informed that many others will also be filing complaints with the police." Karpal's statement in Parliament on Monday concerned the reinstatement of Datuk Jamry Sury as Perak Islamic Religious Department director by order of the palace after he had been transferred by the menteri besar. He said it was the right of the state governments to move any of their civil servants without consulting the heads of state. On the charging of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin for sedition, Abdullah said anyone who broke the law must face the consequences. Raja Petra was charged with posting an allegedly seditious article on his Malaysia Today website titled "Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell". The murder case of the Mongolian woman is currently being heard in the High Court. Abdullah also said the government had not decided whether to review the highway concessions, as stated by Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed on Wednesday. "That is only his suggestion." He said such decisions must first be endorsed by the cabinet.
