Umno firmly behind Rulers
(Bernama) JAKARTA, 16 Feb 2009: Umno, very much disillusioned with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership's actions of disobeying royal command and wanting to sue a ruler, vows to stand behind the rulers.
The party's information chief, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, in stating this here reminded quarters which ridiculed the institution of the monarchy and challenged the sovereignty and supremacy of the constitution that Umno will defend the Malay rulers.
"We do not want anyone to disobey the rulers, what more to sue rulers like Karpal Singh," Muhammad told reporters after delivering the main speech at a seminar on "Development of Neglected Areas" here today.
Muhammad, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said Umno agreed with the views of the Sultan of Selangor that the Sultan of Perak should not have been treated as done by the coalition of Opposition parties.
"For us the rulers are wise and when they make a decision we as citizens must obey. We are disillusioned with PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat who criticised the position of the rulers," he said.
On 13 Feb, Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj voiced his frustrations on what he characterised as rude behaviour towards Sultan Azlan Shah in connection with the appointment of the new Perak state government recently.
Answering questions on the Barisan Nasional government in Perak, Muhammad said the new government was well received by the people.
"I believe that Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir can handle issues and make Perak more developed," he said.
On the two by-elections to be held, Muhammad said the people in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and the Bukit Selambau state assembly seat in Kedah were "bored" with the actions of PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat leaders.
"They have seen how their actions have brought about a state of confusion," he said.
According to him, those parties had never focussed on development matters, rather since Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced about taking over of the federal government by 16 Sept last year, what the parties portrayed and championed was just "stormy politics".
"Maybe now, for people who feel they had made a mistake in choosing PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, it is time for them correct the choice and vote for Barisan Nasional candidates," he said.
At the seminar, Muhammad shared his experiences with development officers from 26 districts identified as backward and with university lecturers involved in developing those districts.
