‘Do not link Royals to politics’
The Sultan of Selangor, in a rare press statement, also says the Royal family has no political affiliation
(FMT) – The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today warned the state Royal family to steer clear of any political party or allow themselves to be used as a symbol of any party for the upcoming Kajang by-election.
The Sultan also cautioned all political parties as well as political figures not to link the Royal family with politics during the campaign period of the coming by-election, fixed for March 23.
The warning comes after several news reports stating that a member of the Selangor royal family had been campaigning for a political party and also publishing pictures of the Royal family with several well known political figures from the Selangor government.
“The Sultan of Selangor urges every member of the royal family to stay out of politics or to get involved in politics.
“His Royal Highness also hopes that no political party would use the palace to win the votes of the people,” said Muhamad Munir Bani, the Sultan’s private secretary said in a press statement.
It is learnt that the order was given to avoid any negative perception from the rakyat linking the royal institution with the local political scene.
“Linking the royal institution with politics is something that should be avoided. This is to reject negative perception from the people of Selangor.
“The Selangor Royal institution is a non-political entity and it does not incline with any party from the government or the opposition in Selangor,” the statement said.
