JOHOR ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is upset with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who allegedly labeled the Bugis as pirates, Berita Harian reported.

Sultan Ibrahim said the former prime minister’s statement seemed intended to cause hatred and to divide the races when all Malaysians should be respecting each other.

“I also feel it, because I am a descendant of the Bugis people and there are many Johoreans who are also of Bugis descent. I originate from Riau Lingga.

“Why if I say that all the Chinese are thieves and the Indian are murderers. Won’t they feel it also? This is what I’m talking about dividing the races and making the people hate each other when we should be respecting one another,” he said.

Dr Mahathir had been reported by The Malaysian Insight as saying that he did not intend to insult the Bugis community in his speeches, but had only targeted Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, however, said he was willing to be investigated over his Bugis remark.

Police have opened two investigation papers on Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his allegedly derogatory remarks about the Bugis community.

Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Fadzil Ahmat said two investigation papers were opened after the PH chairman had allegedly insulted the Bugis community during two speeches he made in Selangor.

Selangor Royal Court secretary Hanafisah Jais said Dr Mahathir appeared to be inciting Malaysians to hate, degrade and view the Bugis community with contempt.

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla also wanted Dr Mahathir Mohamad to apologise over a statement linking the Bugis to pirates.

Jusuf said the statement by the former prime minister was not only insulting to the Bugis community in Malaysia, but also those in Indonesia.

Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years and is now one of the current government’s harshest critics, allegedly made the remarks in a speech at the anti-kleptocracy rally in Petaling Jaya on October 14, Hanafisah said.

In his tirade against Najib at the rally, Dr Mahathir said his ancestors were “Bugis pirates”.

Najib had, in the past, spoken proudly of his family’s Bugis ancestry.

Meanwhile, Sultan Ibrahim, who met the Media Prima Group in conjunction with his 59th birthday at Istana Pasir Pelangi, said he wanted Malay leaders to work together to develop the nation. – November 24, 2017.