Former minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the Selangor ruler’s remarks on Malay unity should not be misconstrued as a binding decree or political interference.
In a statement today, he stressed that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s Aidiladha message must be understood within the framework of the constitutional monarchy system.
Thanking the ruler for granting him an audience yesterday, Zafrul said His Highness was expressing concern for the state and its people.
He emphasised that the sultan was not speaking solely about Malay solidarity, but about ensuring the strength of Malays and Islam as “pillars” of national stability that safeguard the interests of all races and religions.
“Therefore, the Selangor sultan’s words should be seen as a call to bring the people closer together, strengthen harmony, and distance the state and country from a political culture that divides society to achieve a narrow agenda.
“There should not be parties that take advantage of politicising this issue to the point of clouding relations between leaders and affecting the harmony of the people in Selangor,” said Zafrul, who joined PKR from Umno last year.
Call for unity amid political tensions
Earlier today, Sultan Sharafuddin called on Malays and Muslims to unite despite conflicts in the political arena, adding that this unity should not be viewed as hostility towards other races.
“I have also noticed that lately there have been too many disputes and disagreements among politicians that can cause unrest among the people.
“All parties should learn from history when the division of the Malay-Muslims opened up space for outside parties to take advantage and weaken the power and position of the Malay race in their own homeland,” His Highness said.
Commenting further, Zafrul said the ruler’s statement should be viewed as a call to strengthen unity within Malaysia’s multiracial society amid an increasingly uncertain global climate.
“We must also understand and realise the fact that in a diverse society like Malaysia, fighting for the interests of one race cannot be done by marginalising others,” he added.
Citing the global energy crisis stemming from conflicts in West Asia, the former senator said Malaysia required mature politics to preserve stability.
“Let us continue to hold fast to and devote ourselves to the five principles of the Rukun Negara, as a guide to living in a peaceful, harmonious, and successful society,” he concluded.
Pig farming issue fuels controversy
On Tuesday, DAP veteran Tony Pua said monarchs cannot issue binding decrees to regulate all aspects of people’s lives. He is now under investigation after 28 police reports were filed against him.
This was after Sultan Sharafuddin advised state assemblypersons - particularly DAP’s Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki and former Selangor exco Ronnie Liu - to visit the Rukun Negara plaque at Dataran Selangor in Shah Alam to better understand the national principles.
Last month, during the debate on the royal address in the Selangor state assembly, Wong urged the state government to consider modern pig farming systems and noted that the issue touched on rights under the Federal Constitution.
Certain quarters viewed the remark as disrespectful to the Selangor ruler following a February decree that the sultan did not consent to pig farming being carried out in the state, with some accusing her of being “treasonous”.
Following the uproar, Liu was among several leaders who came to Wong’s defence, calling on the state government to address mounting concerns about its pig farming policy.
Liu, who quit DAP in 2023, also questioned why the party’s senior leaders had not sought an audience with the Selangor ruler or raised the matter with the menteri besar, the prime minister, or the cabinet.
On May 7, Sultan Sharafuddin issued a directive calling for a “full stop” to public debate on the suitability of pig farming activities in the state. - Mkini
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