KUANG assemblyman Abdul Shukor Idrus’ emergency motion to stop Dr Mahathir Mohamad from using Selangor’s facilities over the former prime minister’s Bugis remarks has been thrown out as it is not an urgent matter.

The motion by Shukor, who is also Selayang Umno division chief, was rejected by Selangor Speaker Hannah Yeoh in chambers today during the state assembly sitting.

“We uphold and respect the opinion of Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and the Selangor Royal Court on the matter.

“We will not intervene in this regard as the police investigation is still in progress.”

Shukor had sought for the state government to prohibit Dr Mahathir from using state-owned premises.

He also wanted police to stop issuing permits for talks involving Dr Mahathir.

Yeoh told The Malaysian Insight that since 2008, all premises under the state government could be rented by the public, subject to terms and conditions, regardless of their political affiliations.

“There is no urgency for this motion to be debated as it interrupts the current budget debate, which is a top priority.”

The Selangor Royal Court had called for Dr Mahathir to be investigated for sedition, for allegedly inciting hatred towards those of Bugis descent.

Its secretary, Hanafisah Jais, said Dr Mahathir had appeared to incite Malaysians to hate, degrade and view the Bugis community with contempt.

He said Dr Mahathir allegedly made the remarks in a speech at the “Love Malaysia, End Kleptocracy” rally in Petaling Jaya on October 14.

The former prime minister’s remarks about the Bugis have been criticised by members of the community, who demand an apology from the 92-year-old.

An Indonesian Bugis association has called on Dr Mahathir to apologise, saying it would stage a protest outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, if an apology was not issued.

The Bugis are an ethic group originating from the Sulawesi islands in Indonesia. Large sections of the Malaysian Muslim community are Bugis descendants.

In his tirade against Prime Minister Najib Razak at the rally, Dr Mahathir allegedly said Najib’s ancestors were “Bugis pirates”. – November 7, 2017.