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PETALING JAYA: The monarchy must not be dragged into political disputes, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, said.

In his National Day message, Sultan Sharafuddin said the royal institution is "above politics"..

"Any form of criticism or feedback concerning the monarchy should be communicated through appropriate channels and done so prudently," he said.

Sultan Sharafuddin called on politicians to refrain from engaging in politics of hate, a trend he noted is still prevalent despite his frequent appeals for unity.

"I often advise leaders and politicians to avoid inciting hate, but despite this, this culture is still practised by some leaders and politicians," he said.

The sultan’s reminder comes days after former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged with sedition at the Gua Musang sessions court in Kelantan over remarks made at a ceramah in the run-up to the recent Nenggiri by-election.

According to the charge sheet, the Perikatan Nasional chairman had questioned why he was not invited by the then king, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, to be sworn in as prime minister after the 15th general election, despite having the backing of 115 MPs.

Sultan Sharafuddin also said differences in terms of race, religion and political beliefs should not prevent Malaysians from being loyal to the country.

“Instead, these differences should be used to foster a united and pluralistic society. Efforts must be made to organise programmes that can bridge the divides and eliminate any negative prejudices," he said.