Agong speaking as Kedah sultan on 'Allah'

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YOURSAY ‘The Kedah regent read out the speech on behalf of the sultan.’

Minister: Don't belittle royal command on 'Allah'

Apa Nama: Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal, when Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah gave a statement during his birthday last Sunday, he gave it in his capacity as Kedah sultan and not as Agong.

You understand this or not? You told us a few days ago that you people have 'brains' and 'know-how', but now you are talking nonsense.

You see, Shafie Apdal, first you go and read the Federal Constitution. If you do not have time, check with your legal adviser before opening your mouth. Otherwise you make yourself look more foolish than you already are.

Anonymous #19098644: The keeper of the royal seal issues royal proclamations on behalf of the Agong after meetings of the Conference of Rulers.

No meeting of rulers was held and no proclamation was issued by the keeper of the seal. Thus no royal command was made.

The Kedah regent read out a speech on behalf of the sultan prepared by the Umno-led government as per convention. Hence Umno manipulated this issue so that it seemed like the Agong had issued this proclamation.

Raja Chulan: Malaysia is a democratic country. The Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Agong is a constitutional monarchy and His Majesty does not have unlimited and absolute powers to do things as he wishes.

Any decree or command by the Agong outside the powers conferred upon him by the constitution is of no effect.

This country is ruled by laws enacted by Parliament and not by decree or command by anyone. There is no need for Shafie Apdal to confuse or scare us on this matter.

Oriole: Shafie Apdal, first clarify what a constitutional monarchy means. In that context, how is the statement from the king to be weighed?

Stop hiding behind other personages and learn to be political leaders, or quit. There has to be a limit to this leadership by abdication that is the hallmark of your leader.

Sali Tambap: I thought we are constitutional monarchy, not absolute monarchy. And obviously not absolute sultanate as in the time of Hang Tuah where every decree of the sultan must be followed even if it was a bad decree.

As the Agong is not absolute, it therefore follows that people have the right to choose whether to comply with his decree or not. Moreover, the decree must be in accordance to the Federal Constitution for it to be legally binding.

The ruling on Allah is still pending in court - the Agong is pre-empting the Federal Court judgment. Sarawak PKR leader Baru Bian is right - the Agong is poorly advised on this.

Lim Chong Leong: When they cannot rationalise the Allah issue with the rest of the world, they come up with a royal command as the be all or end all, ‘no arguments or you will face action’ stand.

How is that different from the schoolyard bully who says give me your 50sen or I will punch your face?

Not Confused: This headless government is only capable of one thing - issuing threats against anyone who disagrees with them.

What the Agong had to say was directed at the Muslims. Non-Muslims are unaffected by any decree relating to Islam. That is in the constitution too.

Whatever you or anyone else may say, Christians and other religions will continue to use the word whether you like it or not. Just like they do in every other country in the world. Get over it and move on to much more important issues.

Tehachapi: A very dangerous trend has emerged to warn all and sundry about this and that. This is getting more and more annoying. What sort of a country has Malaysia turned into? An absolute monarchy or Umnoland?

Umno has completely ignored the constitutional framework of government and it has completely forgotten how law is to be administered fairly and equitably with due respected paid to all, including non-citizens. The rights of Agong are also circumscribed by the constitution.

Shafie Apdal, if you are already blind and deaf and stupid, please don't try to force us to follow you. Please go back to school and learn about the law before becoming a minister.

ACR: Islam as the official religion does not mean this is an Islamic state.

A theological state in legal parlance means the highest law of the land is religious law which forms the basis for public administration. Is our Federal Constitution based on Islamic precepts?

Next, even in Islamic states like Pakistan, minorities are allowed to practice their religions freely.

Finally, Islamic edicts are not binding on non-Muslims and this is elementary yet fundamental to this whole issue. So, dummies, who are ministers sometimes, should not talk about legal matters when they know next to nothing about it.

Relevancy: Is Malaysia now known as Malay bumiputeras ‘dan lain-lain’ (and others)? It looks like native bumiputeras and other races are now ‘lain-lain’ in the constitution. I wonder when this was change.

Sabahan: The Federal Constitution is supreme. Even the Agong cannot contradict the Federal Constitution. Law experts have stated that what the Agong said is just an opinion which cannot be translated into law.

Maybe Shafie Apdal does not understand the words 'constitutional monarch'.

Continue-The-March: I look forward to Sarawak state election and see how the Christian Dayaks will vote on this issue.

Before the last Sarawak state election, Najib promised them the 10-point solution . After GE13, he changed colour. Karma is coming down hard on Umno Baru.

Corgito Ergo Sum: Shafie Apdal, you will twist anything to make it a Malay versus non-Malay, Muslim versus non-Muslim matter. This how cheap and low you and your cabinet brethren have become.

Being moderate is not in your vocabulary or thinking. In fact, PAS seems to be the most moderate party today.

Geronimo: This is getting more and more ridiculous. Even stating a point of law is considered mocking the king. What's next?


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