PKR MP questions party's move to 'abandon' royal critic

PKR MP questions party's move to 'abandon' royal critic

Hassan Abdul Karim appears to be the sole voice in PKR to question the party’s stand with regard to a member who was detained over his remarks about the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Noting that Iswardy Morni does not hold official positions in the party, the Pasir Gudang MP, however, asked if it was appropriate to “abandon or discard him just like that”.

Furthermore, Hassan said police are investigating the Sarawak PKR member under the Sedition Act.

“Isn’t it PKR’s stand to abolish the Sedition Act? Are we no longer interested in such reforms?” he queried in a statement this afternoon.

Hassan (above) said while PKR might not agree with Iswardy’s comments, it has often cited Article 10 of the Federal Constitution pertaining to the people’s right to express themselves.

“Is this how a party premised on reforms treats its ordinary members?” he added.

Iswardy was detained on May 29 after his YouTube video was circulated on social media.

Apart from the Sedition Act, he is also being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Following this, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil recently said that Iswardy’s views do not represent the party’s stand.

“We wish to verify that Iswardy is only an ordinary member registered under the Petra Jaya division in Sarawak and does not hold any leadership position in the division and central leadership.

“His statements therefore do not represent PKR, a party which upholds and defends the conference of rulers as stated in the party constitution,” he added.

Fahmi revealed that PKR had issued warnings to Iswardy over his previous video content and will not hesitate to take strong action, including sacking him from the party, over the latest incident.

“But since the issue is now under investigation by the police, we will await the outcome of the investigation before taking further action against him,” he added.

Meanwhile, various quarters, including PKR’s political rivals, called for action to be taken on the matter.

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, on the other hand, warned that acts of belittling the monarch could lead to public unrest.

Describing it as an “unpatriotic and irresponsible” act, he said the Home Ministry has asked the police to monitor the situation and take stern action against those who commit such offences so as to protect the royal institution, rule of law and maintain public order.

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kt notes:

Malaysian Malays, having 'borrowed' heavily from Hindu-Indian culture and traditions, regard our royals as sacred cows, the royals being collectively a sacrosanct entity. Thus for Iswardy Morni to criticise the King in this country was unwise, unhealthy for his career and as Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin exaggerated the seeming lese majeste, an “unpatriotic and irresponsible” act. No doubt Hamzah Zainudin was laying it thick on Iswardy's act to embarrass PKR.

But the furore over such seeming lese majeste has always been agitated by political considerations rather than considerations for their Majesty and Highnesses.

Now Hassan Abdul Karim is not your average humble Melayu of a feudal state, apart from possessing a strong socialistic past (being in PRM before PKR). He himself was once responsible for acts not unlike Iswardy Morni, having criticised HRH Selangor during the 2014 MB crisis (vis-a-vis the rancid Kajang Satay). He was subsequently charged in court in 2015 but the charge was eventually dropped, initially as a DNAA and then fully in 2019.

Thus it's no surprise he has emerged to remind his PKR party of the party's principles. Good for him but alas, I think he will get nowhere.

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FMT (relevant extracts only):

Anwar was also asked about Sarawak PKR party member Iswandy Morni who has been arrested for allegedly insulting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Anwar said people could raise issues and inform the King especially during hard times but it should be handled properly.

He said he also disagreed with the Sedition Act.

PKR Sarawak has so far said it had not authorised Iswardy to speak on behalf of the party or any hierarchy, and has insisted that the statements on social media were his own and not on behalf of the party.