Opposition leaders today expressed their regret that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had chosen to "drag" Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tunku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalulail into o­ngoing policy disputes by politicising the royal speech.

Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ) said the King should not be "burdened" by the speech, adding that the BN was to be blamed instead for not being more tactful in preparing a text that would not involve the King in a political dispute.

His Majesty today expressed regret that several people's religious schools or Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) were teaching students to hate other Muslims.