KUALA LUMPUR – Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has expressed his ire and deep disappointment over the actions of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Tengku Hassanal said Muhyiddin has been deliberately belittling and disputing the duties and role of the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during his tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“As a former prime minister and veteran politician, Muhyiddin’s statement had manipulated facts and painted a negative narrative, suggesting that Al-Sultan Abdullah was unfair in appointing the 10th prime minister.
“His statement also appears immature, as it seems he still cannot accept not being appointed prime minister.
“This statement is particularly dangerous because it openly incites people to lose faith in the Institution of Malay Rulers and sows division among the populace,” said Tengku Hassanal in a statement issued by Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan, Pahang.
Tengku Hassanal explained that under Article 40(2) of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the head of state, has the discretion to appoint the prime minister.
According to Article 43(2), the prime minister must be chosen from members of the House of Representatives who, in the Agong’s opinion, command the confidence of the majority in the House, he said.
Tengku Hassanal also added that Al-Sultan Abdullah did not make an arbitrary decision in appointing the prime minister, despite having the constitutional authority to do so.
“His majesty consulted constitutional experts, key public servants, and the Council of Rulers before making the appointment,” he added.
“The Parliament also approved a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on December 19, 2022.
“This was in line with the judgement of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah when he selected Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister,” he added.
Therefore, Tengku Hassanal said he wants the police to take decisive action without compromise against the Perikatan Nasional chairman for touching on 3R issues (royalty, religion, and race).
“I also want to advise all politicians – as leaders of the people – to always stick to the principles of Rukun Negara and continue to unite the people so that Malaysia as a multi-ethnic country can become a developed country, excel economically, environmentally sustainable, and that the people are happy,” he said.
Tengku Hassanal’s private secretary Amir Syafiq Hamzah made a police report on the matter at the Kuantan police station at 10.38pm yesterday.
It was reported that Muhyiddin will provide his statement to police on Tuesday regarding his speech, which allegedly touched on 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues during a ceramah at the recent Nenggiri by-election.”
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain told Bernama police have summoned the Bersatu president after receiving 29 police reports over his remarks.
In his speech while campaigning in Nenggiri, Muhyiddin spoke of how the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah of Pahang did not invite him to form the federal government even though he claimed he had the support of enough MPs after the 2022 general election.
A video of his remarks in the ceramah was posted on TikTok and went viral.
Muhyiddin has been accused of disrespecting the king’s authority with his remarks, and various quarters have called for him to be investigated.
Among his critics are Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who expressed his disappointment with Muhyiddin in a Facebook post yesterday and urged the authorities to act against the Pagoh MP. – August 19, 2024