Utusan says will snub Johor palace over criticism on new bill
(The Malaysian Insider) – Utusan Malaysia today said it would not answer any royal summons to appear before the Sultan of Johor, following the paper’s criticism against a controversial plan to include the ruler in the state’s administration.
“It is not right for the Sultan to besmear the august position he occupies by dealing directly with a media editor,” said Awang Selamat, the pseudonym for the paper’s collective editorial.
“Even Awang as an editor would not want to answer any summons to appear before the Sultan,” he wrote, adding that it was different if the invitation was to others palace events “where all parties are comfortable”.
The Umno mouthpiece said if the Johor palace was unhappy with the criticism and wanted to reprimand or clarify, it could send a representative to meet the daily’s editors.
Utusan said it was improper for Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to deal directly with a paper’s editor.
The daily, however, denied that it had received any such order from the royal household.
“Awang does not think that Sultan Ibrahim will cheapen his status as a ruler by calling Utusan Malaysia to appear before him.
“Awang believes that Sultan Ibrahim, although known to be firm, is a gentleman. Moreover, times have also changed,” wrote the paper, adding that the media must stop being “overly worried about criticism” involving the rulers.
“This is the common question among media practitioners every time a sensitive issue arises regarding the Johor palace.
“The anxiety of media practitioners towards this issue should stop immediately,” said Utusan, adding that “there is no reason for such anxiety” in today’s new media landscape.
