BERSATU supreme council member A. Kadir Jasin today said he never used his closeness with the new government to “attack” Malay rulers with “disputable facts”.
The former New Straits Times Press group editor-in-chief’s comments come after he was told off by Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for criticising the Malay rulers.
He said those who slammed him should read his original articles on the subject.
“I leave it to readers to judge me… by reading and understanding my arguments on the matter.
“Read what I had written, not what was extracted and processed by others.
“My first article, in Bahasa Malaysia, titled Masukkan Institusi Raja Dalam Reformasi, was out in Sinar Harian on May 27, while my second article, Constitution: The King and the Pauper, has been on my blog since June 4.”
It was reported that Anwar, during a press conference last night, said it was unfair to make disparaging remarks against the Malay rulers without giving them an opportunity to respond, and that criticism should be made respectfully.
Kadir said he has never taken advantage of his position to attack the Malay rulers, and he has always stated that his articles are his personal view and have nothing to do with his position.
On using “disputable facts”, he said his critics are free to dispute and present the correct facts.
“If I am wrong, then I will make the correction and apologise,” said Kadir, who is in charge of media and communications in the Council of Eminent Persons.
In a recent blog post, he said for 16 months until April this year, RM256.9 million had been allocated for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the purposes of accommodation, maintenance of residence and palace, personal items, aircraft and transportation, training and escort equipment, clothing and ceremonial items, gifts and souvenirs, overseas visits and salaries of palace staff.
The veteran journalist, however, did not state the source of his information regarding federal spending on royals.
According to the Treasury, the government allocates only RM13.5 million annually for the Agong.
Kadir also said he never disputed the need for Anwar to seek an audience with the Malay rulers to assure them that the new PH government respects the royal institution.
“I did not dispute it. I only said the rulers don’t need to be given guarantees or comforted. Their positions are guaranteed by the federal constitution.
“I do not deny that PH works hard to get the rulers’ support. Only later did I know that apart from Anwar, other PH leaders, too, had gone to seek an audience with the rulers.” – June 7, 2018.
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