Stop Provocative Acts Against Royal Institution – Amirudin

SHAH ALAM, May 4 (Bernama) -- Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has urged all parties to cease any actions that cross the line, particularly those involving 3R (race, the royal institution and religion).

The call follows an issue involving insults directed at the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, including a recent social media post deemed disrespectful to the institution that underpins the sovereignty of the nation and the state.

“High institutions such as the monarchy must be defended or protected, as they are symbols of unity and stand above politics, which is marked by differences.

“Even when there are differences among people — not only in politics but also in other matters — we must avoid insults or ridicule, as that is fundamental,” he said when met after the Selangor state-level Workers’ Day celebration here today. 

Earlier, Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said 280 police reports had been lodged as of yesterday over the circulation of a caricature on social media containing elements deemed insulting to Sultan Sharafuddin on April 25.  

Shazeli said the reports were received from across the country and were lodged by various parties condemning the excessive provocation.

On another matter, Amirudin said a safety audit of high-risk drains in Selangor will be carried out following drowning incidents involving two children in the state, which have sparked public concern.

He said the review would involve a comprehensive assessment of the physical condition of drains as well as environmental factors at the locations, in addition to taking into account the actual circumstances that contributed to the incidents.

Amirudin said the first case involved a child playing in the area while he was still looking into the details of the second incident.

“Was the child (in the second case) playing there or fell while retrieving a ball and so on? If that is the case, safety features in high-risk areas need to be enhanced,” he said.

Amirudin also stressed that safety cannot rest solely on the shoulders of local authorities, but requires the cooperation of parents and the community as well.

-- BERNAMA