KOTA BARU: Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang should not make statements that cause the party's followers and supporters to disrespect the Malay rulers.
Kelantan Umno information chief Datuk Zawawi Othman said as a Malaysian citizen and also head of an Islamic political party, Hadi should respect Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah as a state's ruler.
"We need to respect the ruler so that he will also be respected by other nations," he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin yesterday expressed displeasure at Hadi for the latter's recent statement which were directed to religious scholars, lawyers, judges, members of parliament, state legislative assemblies and the Malay rulers.
The ruler was refering to Hadi's statement titled 'The Stature of Islam Must Be Defended' published on the Pas' portal on Feb 20.
Sultan Sharafuddin's private secretary, Datuk Muhamad Munir Bani had said that the Selangor ruler expressed disappointment at what Hadi said as it showed that the Pas leader did not thoroughly understand His Majesty's speech during the meeting of the Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) on Feb 15.
Munir had also said the ruler has described Hadi's words as being inappropriate and uncivilised, and confirmed that the palace had sent a letter to the Selangor Pas commissioner about the matter on Feb 27.
The New Straits Times has reached out to Hadi for a statement but has yet to get a reply.