After sultan’s rebuke, Jamal vows never to bring hearses to protests
Red Shirts leader, however, stops short of apologising for his antics.
SHAH ALAM: Colourful politician Jamal Yunos has vowed never again to bring hearses to any protest, hours after the Sultan of Selangor expressed his displeasure over the misuse of such vehicles in the state.
But the Sungai Besar Umno chief refused to apologise for his antics despite calls by a Selangor DAP leader to do so because the sultan did not name anyone in the statement issued earlier today.
“I read the letter and my name is not mentioned but it was directed at the mosque committees. I do not wish to comment further,” he told reporters after attending a forum here.
Jamal was asked to comment on Selangor DAP Youth treasurer Muhammad Shakir Ameer’s call for him to apologise for smearing the sanctity of mosques by utilising hearses in his protest.
The private secretary to the sultan, Mohd Munir Bani, said today that mosque committees in the state were urged to control the use of hearses under their care.
“The sultan does not approve of the hearses being used for other purposes, such as leasing it (to people) to stage demonstrations or other unrelated activities,” he said in a statement.
Munir said such abuse would only tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims.
He advised the authorities tasked with the supervision and control of hearses in the state to take note of the matter as instructed by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Jamal had on Feb 14 staged a protest at the Selangor secretariat building where he brought 16 hearses and coffins. He demanded that Menteri Besar Azmin Ali explain the alleged misappropriation of Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor funds.
The Red Shirts leader also came dressed like a gravedigger and with a white towel tied around his head.
His antics earned the ire of the Selangor religious authorities who said it smeared the sanctity of mosques.
Today, however, Jamal claimed he was not clear on the usage of hearses prior to the issue.
“But I fully support the Sultan of Selangor’s decree and I will ensure that hearses will not be used for the wrong reasons.”
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