Save the SAR movement (Gegar) is counting o­n the Malay Rulers, who are holding their two-day annual conference from today, to consider a plea to support the sekolah agama rakyat (SAR), despite the King's criticism of this education system.

The 196 ^th conference, being held at Istana Negara, is scheduled to hear the issue following Gegar's recent representations to the Rulers of Perak, Kedah, Terengganu and Perlis. They had assured Gegar chairperson Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid that this would be o­n the agenda.

Mohd Azmi said he was confident that criticism of SAR by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tunku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalulail would not deter the Rulers' Conference from giving the issue a fair hearing.

The King, while the opening of the 10 ^th session of Parliament o­n Monday, had expressed regret that several SAR were teaching students to hate other Muslims. He had also supported the government's call for SAR students to transfer to national schools.