KUALA LUMPUR: In an apparent royal snub, Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has decided not to attend the inaugural general assembly of Perkasa, the Malay right-wing pressure group.
Political observers viewed the announcement as a royal slap in the face for the group, which is spearheaded by vocal MP Ibrahim Ali. But he said the setback would not derail Perkasa's plan to hold the meeting.
“The sultan has cancelled (his attendance). I have been informed that the Sultan' office would be issuing a statement later. I have no comment on that,” he said at a press confernce at Parliament, flanked by his top liutenants.
Ibrahim, the independent MP for Pasir Mas, said its inaugural meeting on March 27 at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur would go ahead. He said 10,000 members would be attending and many more might come to observe — a surefire indication that Malay unity is on the rise.
Sultan's secretary explains
Meanwhile, the sultan's private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani said the sultan felt that his presence would be misinterpreted to mean that the ruler supported Ibrahim's right-wing non-governmental organisation.
A letter dated March 12 on the sultan's decision and reason had been sent to the Perkasa office, he said.
He also said that it must not be misconstrued that Ibrahim had used the sultan's name in sending out the invitations because the ruler had agreed to open the meeting earlier, after several Perkasa committee members led by Ibrahim had had an audience with him on Feb 25.
Munir said the sultan hoped that the Perkasa meeting would proceed smoothly and the organisation would grow into an entity of integrity and carry on its agenda to safeguard the sovereignty of the institution of rulers, Malay and bumiputera rights and the sanctity of Islam as the country's official religion.
Legal action against the Sun
Ibrahim also revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against the Sun newspaper.
This is over a Sun report that Perkasa had issued invitation cards to its AGM stating that the Sultan would attend — even before confirmation was obtained from the palace.
Ibrahim was particularly sore with The Sun for saying that the Sultan had advised him to tone down his ultra-Malay image.
The MP, who is no stranger to controversies, said he has decided to sue the newspaper in order to safeguard his image and reputation.
Furthermore, Ibrahim added, he plans to raise the matter with Perkasa to see if the organisation would be a party to the suit.
FMT
18/03/10
Political observers viewed the announcement as a royal slap in the face for the group, which is spearheaded by vocal MP Ibrahim Ali. But he said the setback would not derail Perkasa's plan to hold the meeting.
“The sultan has cancelled (his attendance). I have been informed that the Sultan' office would be issuing a statement later. I have no comment on that,” he said at a press confernce at Parliament, flanked by his top liutenants.
Ibrahim, the independent MP for Pasir Mas, said its inaugural meeting on March 27 at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur would go ahead. He said 10,000 members would be attending and many more might come to observe — a surefire indication that Malay unity is on the rise.
Sultan's secretary explains
Meanwhile, the sultan's private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani said the sultan felt that his presence would be misinterpreted to mean that the ruler supported Ibrahim's right-wing non-governmental organisation.
A letter dated March 12 on the sultan's decision and reason had been sent to the Perkasa office, he said.
He also said that it must not be misconstrued that Ibrahim had used the sultan's name in sending out the invitations because the ruler had agreed to open the meeting earlier, after several Perkasa committee members led by Ibrahim had had an audience with him on Feb 25.
Munir said the sultan hoped that the Perkasa meeting would proceed smoothly and the organisation would grow into an entity of integrity and carry on its agenda to safeguard the sovereignty of the institution of rulers, Malay and bumiputera rights and the sanctity of Islam as the country's official religion.
Legal action against the Sun
Ibrahim also revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against the Sun newspaper.
This is over a Sun report that Perkasa had issued invitation cards to its AGM stating that the Sultan would attend — even before confirmation was obtained from the palace.
Ibrahim was particularly sore with The Sun for saying that the Sultan had advised him to tone down his ultra-Malay image.
The MP, who is no stranger to controversies, said he has decided to sue the newspaper in order to safeguard his image and reputation.
Furthermore, Ibrahim added, he plans to raise the matter with Perkasa to see if the organisation would be a party to the suit.
FMT
18/03/10
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