UMNO FIRMLY BEHIND RULERS

JAKARTA, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Ruling Barisan Nasional component party Umno
(United Malays National Organisation), which is very much disillusioned with the
Oppostion leadership's actions of disobeying royal command and wanting to sue a
ruler, vows to stand behind the rulers.

The party's information chief, Muhammad Muhd Taib, in stating this here
reminded quarters which ridiculed the institution of the monarchy and challenged
the sovereignty and supremacy of the constitution that Umno will defend the
Malay rulers.

"We do not want anyone to disobey the rulers, what more to sue rulers like
Karpal Singh (leader of an opposition party)," Muhammad told reporters after
delivering the main speech at a seminar on "Development of Neglected Areas" here
Monday.

Muhammad, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said Umno
agreed with the views of the Sultan of the state of Selangor that the Sultan of
the northern state of Perak should not have been treated as done by the
coalition of Opposition parties.

"For us the rulers are wise and when they make a decision we as citizens
must obey. We are disillusioned with PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat
(opposition parties) who criticised the position of the rulers," he said.

Last Friday, Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj voiced his
frustrations on what he characterised as rude behaviour towards Sultan Azlan
Shah in connection with the appointment of the new Perak state government
recently.

Answering questions on the Barisan Nasional government in Perak, Muhammad
said the new government was well received by the people.

"I believe that Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir can
handle issues and make Perak more developed," he said.

On the two by-elections to be held, Muhammad said the people in the Bukit
Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and the Bukit Selambau state assembly seat
in Kedah were "bored" with the actions of PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat
leaders.

"They have seen how their actions have brought about a state of confusion,"
he said.

According to him, those parties had never focussed on development matters,
rather since Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Anwar Ibrahim announced about taking
over of the federal government by Sept 16 last year, what the parties portrayed
and championed was just "stormy politics".

At the seminar, Muhammad shared his experiences with development officers
from 26 districts identified as backward and with university lecturers involved
in developing those districts.
-- BERNAMA