I’m sorry, move on: Tuan Ibrahim apologises for king’s speech snark

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN) has apologised for suggesting last week that the government had dictated the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s opening address in Parliament.

The PAS deputy president said the matter should not be dragged on and that focus should be on pressing issues affecting the general public.

“I believe this issue should not be prolonged because we have other more important matters (to discuss),” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“As such, I feel that if I had erred (in my remark previously), I apologise and we should move on to a more important agenda for the rakyat’s interest. Thank you.”

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Johari Abdul said he had recently met Tuan Ibrahim to discuss his controversial remarks.

He also thanked the PAS lawmaker for apologising, saying this is the kind of spirit that should be upheld in the lower House.

On February 21, the Dewan Rakyat erupted in a shouting match after Tuan Ibrahim implied that Putrajaya had dictated the Agong’s royal address which was delivered on February 13. 

The Kubang Kerian MP also asserted that Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s speech text lacked emphasis on certain ostensible aspects of the Malaysia Madani agenda.

“It is a shame that (the king’s) address, which was provided by the government and presented to the cabinet… does not mention how fairness is a core element of the Madani concept,” he said.

R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) had then pointed to Standing Order 36(6) of the Dewan Rakyat which stipulates that no member shall impute improper motives to any other member, accusing Tuan Ibrahim of unfairly questioning the ruler’s decree.

“Saying that the royal address was supplied by the government is untrue and is an improper assumption towards the Agong,” DAP’s Rayer had said, urging the opposition MP to withdraw his statement.

While Tuan Ibrahim pointed out that it is normal practice for the government of the day to submit a speech text to the Agong, who will then determine whether or not he will use the suggested words, Rayer insisted that the former environment and water minister apologise for his remarks.

“How do you (Tuan Ibrahim) know that the Agong accepted the speech text (from the government) or if the decree heard in Parliament was the one suggested by the cabinet?”

Similarly, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) said while it was true that the government provides a speech text to the Agong, it was incorrect to label the speech as coming purely from Putrajaya. – The Vibes, February 28, 2023