IT is common knowledge that Malay Rulers should not be dragged into the murky waters of politics, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
As such, he said Perikatan Nasional leaders who commit such an offence must face the music.
Anwar said Perikatan leaders should understand the law rather than blame the unity government when they were called up by the police to give statements.
Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that he had made it clear to the police that it should not use the Sedition Act against anyone who criticised the government or himself as the prime minister.
“But, if you touch on the Rulers, that is a different matter because the Rulers have informed the Attorney General, police and prime minister that they do not want to be dragged into political discussions.
“The Rulers have basis for this because they said they don’t want to be dragged into the political arena. It is unfair to them because they can’t respond in Parliament, media or in any debate.
“I have said that you can say what you want about the government and me as prime minister but do not touch on the 3R,” he said, referring to race, religion and royalty.
Perikatan leaders had accused the unity government of practising “double standards” for using the Sedition Act against Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
On July 18, Muhammad Sanusi was slapped with two sedition charges in the Selayang Court over political speeches he had made about a week before.
One of the speeches provoked an outcry after he allegedly “belittled” the Sultan of Selangor for having appointed Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari as the Mentri Besar, while another touched on the formation of the unity government.
