Govt Urged To Enact Special Bill To Address Insults Against Royal Institution

SHAH ALAM, May 16 (Bernama) -- The government has been urged to enact a special law to curb insults against the royal institution and safeguard the dignity of the Malay Rulers from being challenged by irresponsible parties.

Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said the law should be introduced immediately as a firm measure to address any form of insult, disloyalty and provocation against the monarchy and the position of Islam in the country.

“We propose the drafting of a Sovereignty of the Rulers Bill to prevent and punish any party or individual who questions royal decrees, insults, ridicules, belittles, mocks or engages in any act that tarnishes the dignity of the Malay Rulers and the royal institution.

“The Bill could function similar to the now-repealed Internal Security Act, serving as a special legal mechanism under which individuals accused of insulting the royal institution could be detained by a senior police officer for up to two weeks without a court warrant for investigation purposes,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the Daulat Tuanku gathering outside the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building (SSAAS) here today.

Ibrahim said the proposal was made following an increase in cases involving insults against the royal institution, including the circulation on social media of a caricature allegedly insulting the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Earlier, more than 5,000 participants comprising members of political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) joined the Daulat Tuanku gathering, marching about one kilometre from Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah to the SSAAS Building beginning at 5 pm.

Previously, Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar had informed Sultan Sharafuddin that 307 reports had been received regarding the circulation of social media content containing elements deemed insulting to His Royal Highness.

-- BERNAMA