Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari has been given the backing of Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

badrul hisham shaharin altantuya police questioning 290509 03 "SAMM sees the action (against Aziz) by the authorities as hypocrisy, a shallow threat and backward," Badrul (left) said in a statement today.

Aziz was questioned by the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission after he described a recent decree by the Selangor sultan as "unusual" and "inconsistent".

Badrul, a former PKR supreme council member, reiterated that the royalty is not immune to criticism.

“This is no longer a time where people, especially the young, accept whatever that is fed to them from the top," he said.

He lauded the stance of Negri Sembilan prince Tunku Zain al 'Abidin Muhriz that royal decrees can be discussed by academicians and in the media, so long as this does not cause harm.

This, Badrul said, shows the need for monarchy to be ready for its decrees to be debated and criticised by society.

He also called on the royalty to "adapt to the changing times" in order to remain relevant.

The Selangor sultan’s decree was on an ‘inspection’ carried out by the state Islamic Affairs Department on Aug 3, after purportedly receiving a tip-off that Musims were being converted at a dinner held in a church compound.

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