PKR denies using royal connection

'Definitely, the royal institution should stay above politics,” says Rafizi

PETALING JAYA: PKR has denied that it is using its association with any member of the Selangor royal family to gain mileage in its campaign for the Kajang state seat.

“We’ve never considered using the royal family,” PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli said today in reference to a statement by the Sultan of Selangor, which the mainstream press has alleged was a reprimand on the party.

BN-friendly media said the Sultan was referring to a photograph of PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim and a brother of the ruler chatting during a function. The picture appeared recently on the front page of the party’s mouthpiece, Suara Keadilan.

Rafizi told FMT it was quite common for public figures to be captured in the same photograph together with a member of the royal family.

“But unless there is a specific reference in the Sultan’s statement about us, I don’t think we should speculate,” he said.

He added that he had not read the latest issue of Suara Keadilan and did not know why the picture was given front page prominence.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the Sultan’s private secretary said: “The Selangor royal institution is a non-political entity and it does not incline to any party from the government or the opposition in Selangor.”

Anwar is PKR’s candidate for Kajang. It is widely believed that he plans to take over the Selangor Menteri Besar’s post. He would need the Sultan’s consent for that.

Rafizi said the Sultan’s statement was “fair comment” and all political parties understood the sanctity of the royal institution.

“Definitely the royal institution should stay above politics,” he said.