No way sultan misunderstood Dr M, says Rosmah's aide

There was no way the learned Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah could have misunderstood Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's "Bugis remark", said Rizal Mansor, an aide to the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.

Rizal said the idea of a "misunderstanding" as suggested by Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, could not have happened because the matter was the collectively addressed by the Selangor Council of the Royal Court.

"(Syed Saddiq) said his majesty might have misunderstood Mahathir's insult towards the Bugis people.

"How could a ruler, who is held in high regard, misunderstand (the matter) when the members of the Council of the Royal Court have decided that Mahathir is wrong, and called for legal action?

"Clearly, it was not the ruler who decided alone and Syed Saddiq had suggested that his majesty had received the wrong advice from palace officials," said Rizal in a statement.

On Thursday, the Selangor ruler had criticised Mahathir for insulting the Bugis community and reminded him that the Selangor royalty has Bugis lineage.

The Selangor ruler said the Council of the Royal Court had also urged the authorities to investigate Mahathir under the Sedition Act 1948.

Following this, Syed Saddiq penned an open letter which explained that Mahathir's "Bugis pirate" remark, made during the "anti-kleptocracy" rally on Oct 14, was aimed squarely at Najib.

Syed Saddiq argued that it was Najib who had described himself as a "Bugis warrior" but his actions were an embarrassment to all Bugis people.

According to Rizal, Syed Saddiq's letter was akin to criticising the royal institution and if no action was taken against him, more would write open letters to challenge the rulers.

"Is it right for a young man, who is a political greenhorn, to criticise a sultan in such a manner?

"I fear that if this is overlooked, more will write open letters aimed at the rulers and people will lose respect for the Malay rulers," he said.

Rizal said Syed Saddiq should be reminded that his loyalty to the Malay rulers should supercede his loyalty to his party leader.- Mkini