Forum insulted Malay rulers, mocked academics, says group

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 28 Apr 2019 9:53AM · 14 Comments

A right-wing Malay group has lodged a police report against the organiser, moderator and panelists of the recent forum on Rome Statute, alleging that the participants had insulted the monarchy. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, April 28, 2019.

A RIGHT-wing Malay group has lodged a police report against the organiser, moderator and panelists involved in yesterday’s Rome Statute forum held in University Malaya.

Pertubuhan Sahabat Erat dan Amanat Rakyat’s (Sedar Malaysia) president Nazrin Norani said the panelists ridiculed the royal institution in their speeches, and that the audience at the forum had cheered when they made the insults.

“Sedar Malaysia attended the forum to get first hand information about the Rome Statute but was shocked as it became a forum to insult and ridicule the monarchy.

“The intellectuals on stage behaved like immature kids by insulting the Malay rulers and were cheering when one of them made inappropriate remarks against the institution,” Nazrin who lodged the report said in a statement.

Speaking further, Nazrin stated that the forum also insulted the four academics who had made a presentation to the Conference of Rulers on the issue.

“The forum also made fun of the four professors who advised the Conference of Rulers to go against convention by calling them ‘kangkung’ and branding them stupid,” Nazrin added.

“It is a shame that a forum that was supposed to give information to the public was turned into such an event by the behaviour of the panelists,” he added.

The forum yesterday featured Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, constitutional expert Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi, G25 member Noor Farida Ariffin, sociologist Syed Husin Ali, lawyer Lim Wei Jiet and student activist Asheeq Ali.

Both Thomas and Shad Saleem said no constitutional monarch has ever been prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, even for atrocities committed by their troops.

Shad Saleem cited the example of Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, who was prosecuted for genocide by the ICC, but the country’s constitutional monarch Prince Sihanok was not.

Thomas, meanwhile, said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, will not be held responsible for the decisions made by the prime minister, the cabinet and Defence Ministry in war.

Syed Husin, a well known leftist, questioned a ruler from a “certain southern state” on his objection to the treaty if it was because of allegations on social media that his royal family was being investigated for possible crimes.

Former diplomat Noor Farida on the other hand revealed how the former Barisan Nasional cabinet did not object to the treaty’s ratification and she had personally led the Foreign Ministry’s efforts to implement it.

Malaysia made a u-turn in not ratifying the treaty after initially stating that it was going to sign the convention earlier this month.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Pakatan Harapan government decided not to sign the treaty as the issue is being manipulated by certain quarters and the public have yet to fully understand it. – April 28, 2019.

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Comments

  • The forum has given us a clear glimpse of the reality and is very informative. Reality hurts of course, but it clears our many wrong perceptions of the past. Thanks to the forum.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • This is reason why our country cannot progress because many of the likes of Nazri norani are only good at comprehending positive issues with negative outlooks and comments. Probably that is their problem- intention drive or probably they are politically driven to bad mouth the Pakatan Government? Now they are trying to cause internal security issue

    Posted 5 years ago by DAVID MOK · Reply

  • Go fly kites Kangkung longkang brains.

    Posted 5 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • SEDAR please understand that ONLY ONE palace that were protesting the Rome Statue move and they are actually been paranoid cause the present resident of south state palace actually came into being through a treaty back in 1885. Thus when it comes into any agreement or treaty they would jump like its the end of the world. When this nation secured its freedom the royals house position are all in place in accordance to our constitution. Yes, amendments were made on the subject of royals but certainly you remember why it was incorporated right unless you are too young to remember. Lets say for instant a royal goes outside of this country and accumulated losses through gambling or a fight broke out in a night spot causing death to someone, I am very sure they would behave accordingly whenever they are abroad else they would have to face the law of that particular nation the incident happen, like wise same goes here dont you think so. The royals are respected and they too behaved in a very distinguish manners love by us. This really boils down to understand of the matter, the royals can always summon anyone to explained to them to get a third or forth and so on if they want to and like some of us they too tend to listen to certain quarters only which is too bad. Given assurance by the government that the palace concern are addressed than I for one thinks its just paranoid of them.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Thanks to the forum we now have a better idea on whats happening behind the scene. Its all fair comments and the discussions were for the sake of the Rakyat. So whats your problem SEDAR and Nazrin Norani?

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Come on sedarla sikit
    Sikit2 defensive
    This forum was meant for healthy two way discussion with experts from both sides.
    The fact that most academicians did not turn up
    Surprised me. U were not excited and pumped up to present ur points?

    Posted 5 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • How come the 4 professors who gave their opinion did not want to participate in the forum to defend their opinion ? Just a thought that begs an answer.

    Posted 5 years ago by Stanley Sinnappen · Reply

    • Auto ... no need ask La... they know what they said have no basis and truth

      Posted 5 years ago by DAVID MOK · Reply

  • Rain got blamed. No rain also got blamed. But these idiots spinning the issues forgotten who brought hardships to this country. Still ungrateful to PH for fixing the deep holes in Felda, TH etc etc. Please wake up and think of the future of your children, grandchildren and their children. Don't assume money come easily and its available indefinitely. Focus on their education and prepare them for a decent life so that they do not depend on "handouts" like many of you now.

    Posted 5 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

    • Money come easy for this Right Wings from previous government Era ma

      Posted 5 years ago by DAVID MOK · Reply

  • Name only SEDAR but always in confuse state.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Most of the speakers spoke in English.
    How would these morons comprehend anything?

    Posted 5 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • Hello... let's make it clear... it was the 4 well learned Islamic professors who are the ones actually making a fool and mockery of the Country, Rakyat and the Royalty...not those who participated in the forum to clarify this issue. Where is your sense of intelligence? Or probably as one of the commentor here said .... Your level of English is 'zero'. Oh yes ... coming to talk about this English language issue...it is true that our country is in dire need to improve the English language..actually we are in the May Day' situation. We are way behind many of our neighboring non-English education countries. Are we going to be proud of our status now?

    Posted 5 years ago by DAVID MOK · Reply

  • No insult lah, I still respect our Sultan Nazrin.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply