Kelantan's Tengku Mahkota Calls For End To Controversy

The Kelantan palace has called for an end to the controversy over a statement made by Tengku Mahkota Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra about the rights of the Malays.

Royal Household Controller Datuk Halim Ahmad urged politicians and the media to end the issue as the Tengku Mahkota did not want to create disunity among the people.

“His Highness has requested the end of the issue to avoid unnecessary politicking and ill-feeling among the people. Politicians should not also use this issue for their own agenda.

“It is not the intention of the Tuanku from his speech to lead to a controversy and he would like to stress that unity among his subjects, regardless of their race, is his major commitment,” the official added.

Halim said the Tengku Mahkota had spoken about the rights and privileges of the Malays within the Federal Constitution.

“This part of the speech was highlighted by the media but the thrust of his speech on the weaknesses of the Malays was left out, thus not providing a full picture and context of the speech.”

The Tengku Mahkota, he said, urged the Malays not to spend excessive time sending SMS and e-mails with political messages that generated disunity.

“His Highness urged the Malays to emulate the non-Malays who have channelled their energy in a more productive manner.”

The official said Tengku Muhammad Faris was concerned that there had been “political ill feeling” among the various parties and hoped the issue would end amicably in the interest of the people and the nation.

Last month, Tengku Muhammad Faris had urged the Malays to remain united and said the position of the community should not be questioned.

His statement led to criticism by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, with the latter lodging two police reports. Kelantan Umno has retaliated by accusing Karpal Singh of dragging the Tengku Mahkota into the issue.

A posting by a college student in the Johor PAS website led to Karpal Singh lodging a report of a death threat. The 19-year-old student has since apologised for the posting. (The Star)

***** Let the controversy sparked by Tengku Muhammad Faris' unsolicited speech serve as a lesson to him that never again should he attempt to descend to the level of a politician and make legally untenable, divisive and racially-charged utterances. Sometimes it is better for one to keep quiet than expose one's ignorance, prejudices and true nature. The Tengku Mahkota should by now have realised that he is the biggest loser in this issue and his credibility has been questioned, tarnished and rubbished almost irreversibly.