KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth has called on Perikatan Nasional and its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to issue a formal and public apology for his allegedly seditious remarks touching on 3R (race, religion, and royalty) made during the Nenggiri state by-election campaign.
The wing's chief Dr Akmal Saleh said the former prime minister's remarks created negative perceptions about the ability and authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Head of State, whose powers are enshrined in the Federal Constitution under Articles 40(2) and 43(2).
"Umno Youth expresses its utmost gratitude for the firm decree by the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, urging the police to take stern action against the transgressions that have occurred.
"In the view of Umno Youth, it is appropriate for Muhyiddin and PN to issue a formal and public apology to restore confidence and dispel doubts cast upon the royal institution," Akmal said in a statement today.
He also questioned whether Muhyiddin's statement reflected the consensus of the PN leadership, which included Pas, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, and Gerakan.
A speech by Muhyiddin, which allegedly touched on the sovereignty of Sultan Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during his tenure as the 16th YDPA, had recently gone viral.
Muhyiddin had claimed that he had the backing of 115 members of Parliament after the 2022 general election and that the King should have called him to be sworn in as the 10th prime minister.
The Pahang police have received 28 reports on the matter.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Muhyiddin would be called in tomorrow to provide his statement to assist with the investigations.
Earlier today, Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, expressed his anger and deep regret over Muhyiddin's actions.
In a statement issued by Istana Abdulaziz, Tengku Hassanal called on the police to take decisive and uncompromising action against the Bersatu president.
He also described Muhyiddin's remarks as manipulative and said they have fostered a negative narrative among the public, suggesting that Al-Sultan Abdullah was unfair in appointing the 10th prime minister.