Social media has been abuzz with claims that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will abdicate.
Quizzed on this, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the state government has not received any information on this.
"The state government has no knowledge. If it's a rumour, don't believe it.
"We shouldn't be surprised because people say many things in rumours, not only about the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but also the government. So don't believe rumours," Mohd Amar added in Kota Bharu today.
The Kelantan ruler, who is currently on leave, was installed as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 24, 2017.
In his absence, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, exercised the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from Nov 2 to Dec 31 last year.
Previously, speculation was rife that Sultan Muhammad V, 49, had married former Russian beauty queen Oksana Voevodina in Moscow on Nov 22.
However, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when questioned on this, claimed to be in the dark.
“I don’t know. I don’t have any official confirmation so I can’t say anything,” he had said.
Mohd Amar (photo), who is deputy president of PAS, said Sultan Muhammad V took a two-month leave due to his health condition.
"Nothing happened. It was said that he took the leave in regard to his health. So we accept it as it is," he said.
Asked why certain quarters would spread such a rumour, Mohd Amar said that it could be seen as an effort to tarnish the image of the Kelantan state government.
"If we see it from the political perspective, it's certainly one of the ways to tarnish the state government's image because they know that the relationship between the state government and the sultan is tight-knit.
"So if they could smear something against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, it would indirectly smear the state government too," he said.
The authorities, Mohd Amar said, should take stern action against those who spread the rumour.
"Since there are many slanders and accusations, the government should take action. The Attorney-General's Chambers should be concerned and act.
"This is not in regard to the sultan himself, but to the institution. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong as an institution, so it must be protected.
"That's the duty of the attorney-general. He should be concerned about this matter. Sometimes we wonder what he has been doing about the numerous rumours that have been proliferating in the social media.
"He should have investigated them. If this unscrupulous act is ignored, the people will become bold as there is no reaction from the government," Mohd Amar added. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.