PETALING JAYA: It is improper and unfair for PAS to accuse the attorney-general (AG) of failing to take action against rumours circulating about the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said lawyer Baljit Sidhu.
He said the AG had no power to investigate anything, including rumours.
Baljit said the attorney-general had powers to institute and conduct legal proceedings for a crime and prosecute those believed to have committed a crime but he had no powers of investigation.
“The investigation is handled by relevant agencies such as the police, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and so on,” he told FMT.
Kelantan deputy chief minister Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah had voiced disappointment that the authorities, especially the AG, had failed to take action against rumours being spread about the Agong.
“It is the duty of the attorney-general to ensure that incorrect information does not spread among the people,” the PAS leader had said.
Baljit, who is a member of the Bar Council criminal law committee, said the statement by Mohd Amar had no basis.
“In this case, it will be the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal (Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja) who has to lodge a police report. Then the MCMC and police will come into action.”
According to a report by The New Straits Times, the Malay rulers held a rare and unscheduled meeting on Wednesday night amid social media rumours involving the Agong.
Quoting sources, the daily said the unofficial meeting was to discuss “a serious matter”.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Straits Times quoted Mohd Amar as telling the public not to believe rumours that the Agong would be stepping down from the throne.
Sultan Muhammad V, who was installed as Agong on April 24, 2017, had been on two months’ leave. Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah carried out the duties of the Agong in his absence, until Dec 31 last year. - FMT
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