Daulat Tuanku

FROM STAR ONLINE
By: Wani Muthiah & Edward Rajendra

SHAH ALAM: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is upset and worried over the intrusion of privacy and private rights for the purpose of destroying a person’s dignity and reputation.

His private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said in a statement that the Sultan was sad that the private life and rights of people were being made public and subject to public scrutiny via the mass media.

The Sultan also expressed his sadness and sympathy over what Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong had suffered.

He hoped that Wong would remain calm and be patient in continuing with her life after the incident.

The statement was released after Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had an audience with the Sultan at Istana Mestika here Wednesday morning.

Khalid had sought the meeting after the scadalous photographs of Wong surfaced, forcing her to offer to quit as exco member and Bukit Lanjan assemblyman. The party has yet to accept her offer.

On Wong’s political position, the Sultan declined to offer any decision as he intended to remain above politics.

The Sultan said whatever decision Khalid was going to make, it would be done accurately, fairly and with wisdom by taking into consideration the interest of the people in particular and the State of Selangor generally.

Later, Khalid thanked the Sultan for the trust in him and the state exco in dealing with the matter.

“We thank the Sultan for believing in us to make the decision regarding Wong.

“The state government will abide by the Sultan’s wishes by making a fair decision while at the same time taking into consideration the best interest of the people and the state,” Khalid said.

He was accompanied by the entire exco at the press conference which was held after the exco meeting.

Khalid said the state government was also thankful for the Sultan’s opinion regarding the intrusion of an individual’s privacy.

Khalid Ibrahim also said Wong’s leave would be extended.

He said this was done pending police investigations and any decision would only be made after the investigations had been concluded.

When contacted, former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the Sultan made the right decision by declining to get involved in determining Wong’s fate.

“Khalid was wrong to bring the matter to the Sultan who must not be burdened with these problems. The problem is a party matter and the palace cannot be involved in it,” said Dr Mohd Khir.

He questioned Khalid’s intention in prolonging the issue, adding that the government was delaying accepting Wong’s resignation because it was trying to avoid the inevitable by-election in Bukit Lanjan.

The full press statement by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, over the controversy involving Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, issued by his private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani

“I am pleased to inform that Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Khalid Bin Ibrahim, the Dato’ Mentri Besar Selangor has sought an audience with His Royal Highness, The Sultan of Selangor, on Wednesday, 25th February 2009 and duly informed His Royal Highness on the political development and the issue which involved Yang Berhormat Elizabeth Wong Keat Ping, the Selangor State Assemblyman for Bukit Lanjan who is also the State Selangor Exco Member.

His Royal Highness, The Sultan of Selangor, has commanded me to inform that His Royal Highness could not offer any guidance or advice to the Yang Berhormat Dato’ Menteri Besar of Selangor in the matter related to the issue of Yang Berhormat Elizabeth Wong Keat Ping as it was still under police investigation and it involved her political position. It is His Royal Highness’ stance as the Sultan of Selangor to be above politics.

His Royal Highness believes that whatever decision that is going to be made by the Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Mentri Besar of Selangor will made with accurateness, fair and with wisdom by taking into consideration the interest of the Rakyat in particular and the State of Selangor generally. His Royal Highness is upset and worried as of late the intrusion of someone’s privacy and private rights was being used to destroy one’s dignity and reputation. It is a sad thing as one’s life and private rights were being made public and subject to public scrutiny by publicising in the mass media.

To Yang Berhormat Elizabeth Wong, His Royal Highness felt sad and sympathised with her as to the unfortunate event she had suffered and hoped that Yang Berhormat Elizabeth Wong will remain calm and be patient in continuing with her life henceforth.”

Dato’ Haji Mohamad Munir bin Bani Dato’ Lela Bakti Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Sultan Of Selangor