Annuar grills Kadir Jasin for questioning royal institution

Umno information chief Annuar Musa called on the authorities today to investigate A Kadir Jasin for what wrote in a column carried by Sinar Harian yesterday – purportedly questioning the royal institution.

Annuar said the authorities should uphold the supremacy of the law and investigate Kadir, a former journalist who is now the spokesperson of the Council of Eminent Persons.

"I hope the authorities would not be afraid and be fair in investigating Kadir's writing," he said in his blog posting today.

Annuar expressed surprise over Kadir's column, which he described as a signal or warning to the Malay rulers because it addressed the social contract between them and the people.

"Is this a signal that the new administration is moving towards reforming the royal institution by amending the Federal Constitution as was done in the 1990s, which resulted in a conflict between the rulers and the people?" he asked.

The Umno information chief said that in hiw view, the article seemed to contain elements of sedition.

Annuar added that Kadir should have accepted the Conference of Rulers' explanation in relation to MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull's statements about his previous meetingswith the council over 1MDB.

'Does Kadir think he is invincible?'

"Is this Kadir's view or the view of the Harapan leadership council? Does Kadir think he is invincible in coming out with such a statement?" he further asked.

Annuar also asked why Kadir raised the rulers' wealth, as it may sow hatred among the public towards the institution. 

He added that Malaysians, especially Malays, would not allow the episode of the 1990s to repeat itself.

"I also hope that the government would not be extreme in its actions so as to attack the royal institution, Islamic religion and more importantly, the Federal Constitution itself.

"Any effort to amend the constitution, as Kadir had envisaged, would be strongly opposed," he said.

"We recognise the people’s mandate given to Harapan and that is why the transfer of power went smoothly, without any glitches, although the mandate is very narrow," he said.

'Malay mandate not with Harapan'

Annuar also reminded Kadir that the Malay mandate is not with Harapan.

"Statistics show that more than 70 percent of Malays did not choose Harapan," he claimed, adding that Kadir and the Harapan leadership should focus on fulfilling their 'first 100 days' promises, which have yet to be realised.

Annuar said the people were waiting for the abolishment of the GST, toll-free highways, free education, and the reduction in prices of goods – not threats to the royal institution.

In his article, Kadir said that the ruler's reaction to Shukri's complaints about 1MDB should be reexamined in light of there being a new goverment in Putrajaya.   Mkini