Sultan has the right, says Najib - The Star

May 6, 2008 By IZATUN SHARI

KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan Azlan Shah’s decision to instruct Perak Mentri Besar to immediately retract a 24-hour transfer order issued on the state Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Jamry Sury is in line with the provisions under the Federal and state constitutions.

Therefore, no one should question the Sultan’s decision, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“The decision made by Perak Sultan is in line with the provisions under the constitution. It cannot be questioned,” he told reporters Tuesday after the Defence Ministry’s workers day celebration here.

Najib was commenting on Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament Karpal Singh’s statement that the Sultan of Perak has no jurisdiction over the transfer of Jamry from the department.

Najib said Karpal’s statement was deemed as questioning the provisions under the constitutions and could invite all sorts of reactions including anger among those who defended the powers of the Sultan under the constitution.

He said the Federal Constitution stipulated that the Sultan had the absolute power over religious matters.

“Powers of Sultan and that of the Federal Government and state governments are already stated in the Federal Constitution and State Constitution. Thus, no one should question decisions that are made as long as they are in line with the provisions under the constitutions.”

Last week, Sultan Azlan Shah made the decision because Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar made the transfer order without prior consent from the Sultan as the head of Islam and the Raja Muda of Perak as the state Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council president.