I want to give a warning to the Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Jailani Johari, the UMNO/BN fake papers like Berita Harian and New Straits Times and the army of UMNO/BN “quinoa cybertroopers” not to play with fire and spread false news that I have criticised and attacked the Yang di Pertuan Agong.
I understand that such fake news that I have criticised and attacked the Yang di Pertuan Agong had gone viral this morning.
It all started with the “fake news” published by today’s Berita Harian in the report ‘Kit Siang bersikap biadap, perlekeh titah Agong’, which among other things said:
“KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Parlimen DAP, Lim Kit Siang, disifatkan sebagai biadab, kerana mengeluarkan kenyataan yang memperlekeh dan menghina titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V. “Ia susulan kenyataan Kit Siang ketika sidang media di Parlimen hari ini, yang menyifatkan titah Seri Paduka pada pembukaan Mesyuarat Pertama Penggal Keenam Sidang Parlimen Ke-13 semalam, sebagai ucapan dasar kerajaan pimpinan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak. “Malah, Kit Siang yang juga Ahli Parlimen Gelang Patah, secara terbuka menyatakan beliau kecewa dengan titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong itu. “Timbalan Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia yang juga Ahli Parlimen Hulu Terengganu, Datuk Seri Jailani Johari, menyifatkan kenyataan Kit Siang itu menunjukkan sikapnya yang biadab serta tidak menghormati Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan institusi Diraja.”
The New Straits Times today carried the report “KIT SIANG INSOLENT, SAY MPS”, which said :
“KUALA LUMPUR: DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang has been described as ‘insolent’ over his statement which was deemed to be disrespectful towards the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V. “This follows the opposition leader’s statement at a press conference today, where he appeared to question the royal address by the King at the opening of the first meeting of the sixth sitting of the 13th Parliamentary session on Monday. “Lim, who is also Gelang Patah Member of Parliament, had stated that he was ‘disappointed’ with the royal address, which he regarded as a ‘policy speech’ by the government under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership. “Hulu Terengganu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Jailani Johari said Lim’s statement displayed his insolent attitude, and that he had no respect for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the royal institution.”
The malicious reports in the Berita Harian and New Straits Times are intended to falsely convey the fake news message that I have criticized and attacked the Yang di Pertuan Agong and that I have no respect for the Yang di Pertuan Agong and the royal institution.
UMNO leaders, fake papers and army of “quinoa cybertroopers” may think that this is a potent accusation to make against the DAP to mislead and frighten Malay voters, but this is nothing less than “playing with fire” as it is fake news, completely baseless and untrue.
When giving my response to the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s speech opening Parliament on Monday, I had never criticized the Yang di Pertuan Agong or the royal institution.
I opened my statement yesterday pointing out that the speech by the Yang di Pertuan Agong in opening the sixth meeting of the 13th Parliament was the Najib administration’s latest policy speech on its policy measures and specifics in the pipeline in the next 12 months, but the second Najib administration has less than five months to go before the holding of the 14th General Election.
I said I was “very disappointed with the latest policy address prepared by the Najib administration for the opening of the Parliament by the Yang di Perutan Agong yesterday” as it omitted major issues like corruption and the 1MDB scandal but I never criticized the Yang di Pertuan Agong.
It is a sign of desperation of UMNO leaders and their “quinoa cybertroopers” that they have to twist and distort my criticism of the policy speech prepared by the Najib administration into an attack on the Yang di Pertuan Agong and the royal institution.
I urge UMNO leaders and the UMNO “quinoa cybertroopers” not to concoct and peddle “fake news” to create animosity and hatred among the diverse races, religions and cultures that make up Malaysia just for the sake of political gain for the forthcoming 14th General Election.
If Pakatan Harapan succeeds in defeating the Barisan Nasional in the 14th General Election, the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s official opening of the 14th Parliament will be the occasion for the delivery of a royal address which will contain the policy programmes of the Pakatan Harapan government.
Undeniably, the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s speech at the official opening of the 14th Parliament will include the new policy initiatives which Pakatan Harapan will undertake in its first 100 days in office as well as during the first year.
If we truly love Malaysia and are fully loyal to the Malaysian Constitution, let us uphold the system of constitutional monarchy and keep the royal institution separate from the battles waged by political parties and not to drag the royal institution into the political arena.
(Media Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, 7th March 2018)