Royal snub over PR's black attire

IPOH: The third term of the 13th state assembly sitting started on the wrong footing when 26 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen wore black suits instead of the ceremonial dress, which was officiated by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah here today.
Clearly unhappy with the turn of events, Sultan Nazrin even snubbed the traditional group photography session with the elected representatives from PR and Barisan Nasional.
After delivering his speech, he left the state secretariat building. He did not attend lunch.
Some of the PR elected representatives were dressed in black suits while others were in black baju melayu.
All the 31 BN assemblymen attended the opening session in their ceremonial dress.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir who was furious with the attitude of the opposition assemblymen, said: "The decision by the Sultan not to stay for the photo session clearly shows he is disappointed".
He described the oppositions actions as uncivilised and said, "the PR representatives had shown disrespect to the royal institution".
"More so today's opening session which is meaningful and a historical event with the Sultan officiating the sitting for the first time since ascending the throne on May 29, 2014," he told reporters.
Zambry said for now they cannot accept any reasons given by PR for wearing black suits although they may apologise for their actions later.
"We can have our differences but we have to respect the Sultan who is officiating an important event ... black is for mourning and sadness ."
When asked on claims by PR that there is no dress code for such an event, he said: " it is not a matter of the dress code but the royal institution and the opening of the session. Let the rakyat judge the attitude of the assemblymen".
He said they could have worn the black attires tomorrow when the session begins instead of in the presence of the Sultan.
Meanwhile state assembly speaker, Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany also expressed disappointment over the dress code of the opposition state assemblymen.
Earlier Perak PAS deputy commissioner and Changkat Jering assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin told newsmen; "It is incorrect to say that we had shown disrespect to the Sultan. The question of disrespect does not arise and the standing order does not state the dress code. We are only fighting for freedom and justice and to express our solidarity and support over some issues."
Among the issues are the jailing of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy, 13 PAS supporters who protested outside Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar over the swearing in ceremony of Zambry as Mentri Besar in 2009 and the arrest of two of Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen.
Chang Lih Kang (Teja) and Tan Kar Hing (Simpang Pulai) and four others were charged in the Kuala Lumpur magistrate court on Monday for preventing a Kuala Lumpur City Hall officer from carrying out his duties during the #KitaLawan rallly near Dataran Merdeka on March 27.
The duo did not attend the event as they were still in Kuala Lumpur arranging for their bail.