Royal comment "on the verge of sedition" - The Sun

By Tan Yi Liang

PETALING JAYA (APRIL 15): DAP chairman Karpal Singh has taken to task the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan, Tengku Mohammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra for making political statements that were "on the verge of sedition".

"The Tengku Mahkota should have known better than to issue statements with a political flavour", said Karpal.

"Royalty in the country must stay apolitical. Conventionally, royalty is required to do so," he said, adding that "the tone of the statements of the Tengku Mahkota is an affront to the other races in the country."

Speaking at a Maulidur Rasul Malay unity celebration last Saturday, the Tengku Makhota had said the special rights and privileges of Malays were not to be questioned and that it was inappropriate for other races to demand equal privileges just because they had gained Malaysian citizenship.

Tengku Mohammad Faris had claimed the special rights and privileges of the Malays as a "quid pro" (exchange) for providing Malaysian citizenship to 2.7 million people of other races who joined the Malay Federation.

Describing the Tengku Mahkota's comment as "unwarranted", Karpal said citizenship itself grants the other races the standing to claim equal rights and privileges.

"The other races in the country acquired citizenship after Merdeka, and are, therefore entitled to enjoy the rights and privileges which flow from that citizenship," Karpal added.

[From http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=21504]