PETALING JAYA: The recent controversial remarks made by caretaker Kedah Mentri Besar should serve as a reminder to politicians not to play up race, royalty and religion (3R) in the upcoming state elections, says Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
“This is a good lesson and I hope in the future, election candidates will not raise these issues.
“Let us debate about facts, data and how to develop the country and state in the coming state polls,” said the caretaker Selangor Mentri Besar, adding that police should be given room to complete their investigations.
Amirudin also said it was odd that Muhammad Sanusi made a public apology despite denying any wrongdoing in his remarks about the Selangor Ruler.
“He (Muhammad Sanusi) apologised despite saying he’s not that wrong. That is very weird.
“But that is okay; the police are currently investigating the issue,” Amirudin told reporters after attending a PKR youth event in PJ Live Arts yesterday.
Muhammad Sanusi had apologised to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah but claimed his statements were “spun” in an attempt to defame him.
Police reports were lodged against Muhammad Sanusi for allegedly belittling the Sultan of Selangor for having appointed Amirudin as Mentri Besar.
At the same time, Amirudin also said the PKR discipline committee will decide whether or not the party’s Shah Alam deputy chief Najwan Halimi should be penalised over a purported racial slur.
Amirudin said he did not agree with Najwan’s remarks but noted that the latter’s words were not as severe as Muhammad Sanusi’s comments.
“It is not like Muhammad Sanusi, who made such remarks during a ceramah and defended himself by saying that his remarks were spun,” added Amirudin, who is also PKR vice president.
Amirudin said that Najwan had contacted Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general Sivarajan Arumugam over the matter.
Sivarajan had called out the former Kota Anggerik assemblyman on Twitter.
He posted a screenshot of Najwan sharing a news report on PSM’s Meru candidate Sivaranjani Manickam on a WhatsApp group, with the comment that PSM was an “Indian estate party”.
Najwan has since apologised for the incident and said he will be more careful when making any statements in the future.
Meanwhile, Amirudin also appeared to be unfazed by Muda’s plans to contest four state seats in Selangor.
“Our focus now is to make sure all our representatives win in the state elections,” added Amirudin.
Amirudin also said he was unsure why there was no decision on Muda’s application to formally join Pakatan Harapan.
“I’m not sure. But for now, we have to focus on the unity government coalition, and Muda has chosen to distance itself from us,” he said.
Muda recently announced it will contest in Seri Serdang, Batu Tiga, Sentosa and Bukit Antarabangsa.
Muda leaders had said their application to join Pakatan had not been processed since September last year.
State polls will be held on Aug 12 in Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
