MEDIA, ROYAL INSTITUTION SHOULD PLAY ITS ROLE TO DEFEND MALAY RULERS

JELEBU (Malaysia), May 7 (Bernama) -- Members of the royal institution and Malay media practitioners should play their roles to ensure that domestic royal issues will not become a national controversy to the extent of tarnishing the image of Malay rulers.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said
although the Malaysian Constitution had clearly stated that the future of the
royal institution was guaranteed, some humiliating incidents involving the Malay
rulers, nevertheless, had been widely reported in the newspapers.

"We should have the integrity to restrict this kind of stories so that they
can be resolved by the parties concerned.

"Unfortunately, this kind of stories, like what was happening in Kelantan,
had become such a hot topic," he told reporters here Thursday.

He said the preoccupation of the Malays in talking about such a hot topic,
had made them forget about the importance of honouring the royal institution.

Worse still was when the Malay newspapers were the ones who were
highlighting the issues, he said.

"In this case, both parties should play their roles, but those inside the
royal institution should also take care of their castles, besides the government
as the guardian of the constitution," he said.

When asked how the Malays could react to tackle the issues and attempts to
weaken Islam, Malay rights and the royal institution, Rais said: "There is no
other way than through the Umno voice."

He also explained that the 1Malaysia concept would not cause the Malay
rights to be abolished because this assurance was enshrined in the constitution.

--BERNAMA