Derhaka? We beg to differ, says Ngeh
By Shannon Teoh (The Malaysian Insider)
IPOH, Feb 10 – Accusing Umno Youth of confusing the people and incitement, Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham today clarified that Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin had only “begged to differ” with the Sultan.
Barisan Nasional has been labelling Pakatan Rakyat as anti-Sultan in its bid to overturn the tide of public disapproval of its takeover of the Perak government, which PR says is unconstitutional.
Yesterday, led by Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, about 1,000 demonstrators called for Nizar and Ngeh to be stripped of their titles by the Sultan and also to be banished from the state along with other Pakatan Rakyat leaders for committing treason against the crown.
Ngeh however, explained that in modern times, especially under a constitutional monarchy, the term “derhaka” did not exclusively mean treason anymore.
He added that under Article 18 of the Perak constitution, the Sultan was to follow the advice of the MB in various matters, which showed the key difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional one.
“Umno Youth are confusing people and the police should arrest them for inciting the public against the constitution,” he said.
