Karpal: I was referring to Terengganu and Perlis

The Star (14/5/08): Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh said he did not make any specific allegation against the Sultan of Selangor and that the Royal Court of Selangor should not be over-hasty in making remarks against him.

Karpal Singh was referring to a rebuke by the Royal Court on Monday, which said that his statements were baseless and irresponsible.

“My statements were only specific to Terengganu and Perlis where the Rulers insisted in appointing a mentri besar of their choice, and they succeeded,” he said.

He also said the Royal Court should look into what was said in 1993 by then mentri besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who remarked:

“It is also to ensure that in the future, Rulers do not interfere with the affairs of the state, especially those relating to transfers of civil servants and official functions.”

Karpal Singh said the remarks were made by Muhammad on the need to amend the Selangor state constitution after amendments were made to the federal constitution, taking away the immunity of the Rulers in relation to legal liability, and the setting-up of the Special Court.

Referring to a written reply by the Home Minister to his question on whether the case of the late Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Hashim had been solved, Karpal Singh said the reply was completely misleading.

Karpal Singh said the murder of Abdul Rahman in 1974 remained unsolved.

The reply said police investigations found that those who killed Abdul Rahman were also the same people who had killed Perak police chief Tan Sri Koo Choo Kong.