PETALING JAYA, July 16 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has said he hopes no quarters will stoke issues pertaining to race, religion, and the royal institution (3R) during the upcoming state election’s campaigning period.
He said all parties should instead focus more on issues based on data and facts, as well as plan for the development of both Malaysia and Selangor.
“This is a cautious reminder to all and sundry when speaking, and it applies to myself as well. In reality, it is appropriate for the government to remind us that we should not exploit 3R issues.
“In the end, it can backfire if we express our views in a wrong manner and are misunderstood by the public,” he said during the Suara Anak Muda #INIMASAKAMI programme at Live Art in the Jaya One shopping centre, yesterday.
On Tuesday (July 11), Kedah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was accused of mocking Selangor’s royal institution during a political ceramah in Selayang.
A video recording of the ceramah quoted Muhammad Sanusi as saying: “The Sultan of Kedah is great, not just an ordinary Sultan but a remarkable Sultan. Look at the Menteri Besar (referring to himself). A great Sultan like that would not choose a lousy Menteri Besar like Amir.”
He was referring to Amirudin’s appointment as Menteri Besar, who took office on June 19, 2018, with royal assent from the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj.
The incident was widely condemned, with several parties including members of the Selangor Royal Council, lodging police reports on the matter.
Yesterday morning Muhammad Sanusi, who is also Perikatan Nasional’s election director-general, made a Facebook post in which he expressed his ‘sincerest apologies’ and sought the forgiveness of His Royal Highness.
