KOTA BHARU: The Federal government has been urged to stamp out the culture of insulting and denigrating the royal institution and bring such offenders to court, says Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
This, he said, needs to be done so that it doesn’t evolve into a culture where there are no limits to the extent of criticism.
He said Pas viewed the insults to the royals seriously as it touches on the royal institution, which is enshrined in the Federal Constitution in the form of a constitutional monarchy.
"This means that the institution should be respected, should not be touched and cannot be maligned by anyone. I support what the Sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) had decreed, in which he expressed concern over the Malays who are criticising the royal institution.
"We have to see this institution as a basis for unification and formation of the nation. As for Pas, we are asking that the government curb these acts, do not let it evolve into a culture where we are free to say anything, complain about anything, about anyone.
“Those behind these insults must be brought to court because such an act should not happen," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim was speaking to reporters after treating the less fortunate to a Hari Raya Aidilfitri shopping session at the Billion Supermarket here on Sunday.
On Saturday, Sultan Sharafuddin had expressed his disappointment over the brazen acts of some quarters who openly insult and denigrate the country’s royal institution by inciting the people to hate the Malay Rulers. The Sultan said it was even more disappointing to note that the incitement against the Malay Rulers comes from a small section of Malays themselves.
Meanwhile, when asked on whether the act of insulting the royal institution only began in ‘new Malaysia’, Tuan Ibrahim opined that the basis of it was media freedom.
While acknowledging that there is a need for media freedom, he said such freedom should not be absolute as it could damage the nation.
"There are institutions that we can openly criticise, while some we need to go through certain channels, so all parties need to respect existing channels.
"If everyone criticises openly, I think this will trigger a polemic in society. I am confident we need to give time to Pakatan Harapan, but in the course of this transition, many quarters are taking advantage of the situation. We need to nip this in the bud," he said.