NST Online » NewsBreak2007/11/16
Tuanku Mizan regrets claims he supports illegal rally
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, FRI:
THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has expressed regret over claims that he and the Palace approved and suppported Saturday’s illegal rally in the city.
THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has expressed regret over claims that he and the Palace approved and suppported Saturday’s illegal rally in the city.
In a statement issued here today by the Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja of Istana Negara, Datuk Wan Mohd Safiain Wan Hasan, the King also regretted the gathering, which was organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) and supported by the opposition parties.
Tuanku Mizan stressed that he and Istana Negara had at no time approved or given any support, directly or indirectly, to any quarters that organised or was involved in the illegal assembly or any other activities that contravened the law.
On Saturday, Bersih, which comprises several non-governmental organisations, as well as some opposition parties had gathered their supporters at various spots in the city, including around Masjid Jamek, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and the National Mosque, before marching to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum to Tuanku Mizan.
The following Monday, PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar said Bersih had decided to submit the memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after the ruler himself approved of it, and that the presence of Bersih at Istana Negara was to hand over the memorandum to the King’s representative.
In the statement, Tuanku Mizan said as the head of state, he was responsible in ensuring that the country’s administration based on the constitutional monarchy system as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, was respected and adhered to by all.
He hoped that the people would act in accordance with the law and not be involved in any illegal action or activity. “Every Malaysian citizen is responsible for maintaining public order for continued peace and stability in the country,” Tuanku Mizan said. The King also hoped that the people would together work at preserving unity and harmony to ensure that the country would continue to develop, prosper and be respected.Meanwhile, Wan Mohd Safiain said that Istana Negara, for the first time, summoned the media to publicise the content of the statement as the King viewed the matter seriously. “Normally, Istana Negara would issue a statement via facsimile but this time, we had to call the media here to ensure that the King’s message reaches the people,” he added.
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