Khalid Samad has apologised for making the Selangor sultan vexed but he is also "confused" as to which part of his statement earned him a royal rebuke.
The PAS Shah Alam MP also noted that he met the sultan at a breaking of fast event on June 30 and greeted the monarch.
The latter, he added, did not seem displeased.
This was 12 days after Khalid made his statement urging the Selangor state government to curb the state Islamic Affairs Council's (Mais) executive powers due to its proximity to the Sultan.
"I greeted him and there was no mention about the sultan being unhappy about my statement.
"So I am shocked when this news about him being upset with me came out (on Tuesday)," said the MP.
Meanwhile, Khalid apologised if any part of his statement had caused the sultan to be upset.
"I hope to be able to have an audience with him and clarify the matter," he told a press conference at his office today.
Khalid said if it is proved that some parts of his statement were indeed offending to the sultan, he would privately tender an apology to the monarch as well.
The MP also revealed that he had been invited to another breaking of fast event with the sultan on July 25.
The second-term MP yesterday wrote to the Selangor palace to seek an audience with the monarch over the matter, and is awaiting a reply.
Undivided loyaty
Khalid said he was only trying to "insulate" the sultan from any external criticism with his suggestion to curb Mais' powers.
He said that any criticism regarding Mais' actions must be directed at the state government, and that was why he suggested that while Mais and the sultan can form policies on religious matters, the implementation and executive work must be carried out by the state government, so that it can be held accountable.
"My suggestion was well-intentioned for the sultan himself. I seek forgiveness if anything I had said gave the impression that I am challenging his powers," he added.
During the press conference, Khalid also played a video recording of his press conference at the Parliament lobby during which he made his now controversial statement, flanked by three other Selangor PAS MPs, namely Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), Che Rosli Che Mat (Hulu Langat), and Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja).
Khalid said since the sultan's unhappiness was directed at him alone, he had asked the other MPs to let him handle the matter.
However, the other three MPs were present when the police recorded statements from Khalid and the rest in their sedition probe early this month.
Khalid is being investigated under the Sedition Act for the same statement due to a police report lodged by Malay rights NGO Jalur Tiga (Jati) member Norman Toha on June 18.
The Shah Alam MP also stressed today that his loyalty for the state of Selangor and its monarch is "undivided".
"Though I was not born here, I have stayed here for more than 50 years," he said.
The PAS Shah Alam MP also noted that he met the sultan at a breaking of fast event on June 30 and greeted the monarch.
The latter, he added, did not seem displeased.
This was 12 days after Khalid made his statement urging the Selangor state government to curb the state Islamic Affairs Council's (Mais) executive powers due to its proximity to the Sultan.
"I greeted him and there was no mention about the sultan being unhappy about my statement."So I am shocked when this news about him being upset with me came out (on Tuesday)," said the MP.
Meanwhile, Khalid apologised if any part of his statement had caused the sultan to be upset.
"I hope to be able to have an audience with him and clarify the matter," he told a press conference at his office today.
Khalid said if it is proved that some parts of his statement were indeed offending to the sultan, he would privately tender an apology to the monarch as well.
The MP also revealed that he had been invited to another breaking of fast event with the sultan on July 25.
The second-term MP yesterday wrote to the Selangor palace to seek an audience with the monarch over the matter, and is awaiting a reply.
Undivided loyaty
Khalid said he was only trying to "insulate" the sultan from any external criticism with his suggestion to curb Mais' powers.
He said that any criticism regarding Mais' actions must be directed at the state government, and that was why he suggested that while Mais and the sultan can form policies on religious matters, the implementation and executive work must be carried out by the state government, so that it can be held accountable.
"My suggestion was well-intentioned for the sultan himself. I seek forgiveness if anything I had said gave the impression that I am challenging his powers," he added.During the press conference, Khalid also played a video recording of his press conference at the Parliament lobby during which he made his now controversial statement, flanked by three other Selangor PAS MPs, namely Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), Che Rosli Che Mat (Hulu Langat), and Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja).
Khalid said since the sultan's unhappiness was directed at him alone, he had asked the other MPs to let him handle the matter.
However, the other three MPs were present when the police recorded statements from Khalid and the rest in their sedition probe early this month.
Khalid is being investigated under the Sedition Act for the same statement due to a police report lodged by Malay rights NGO Jalur Tiga (Jati) member Norman Toha on June 18.
The Shah Alam MP also stressed today that his loyalty for the state of Selangor and its monarch is "undivided".
"Though I was not born here, I have stayed here for more than 50 years," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.