Event was princes’ initiative, nothing to do with Umno’s Lokman Adam.
- Lokman’s attempt to link crown princes to anti-Rome Statute rally had upset royal families
- Lokman claimed he publicised royal event to prevent poor turnout
- Selangor and Pahang crown princes deny involvement
The ‘Santai Teh Tarik’ session with four crown princes that was due to take place in Malacca tomorrow was their own initiative and had nothing to do with Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam, according to Malaysiakini.
Citing a source, the news portal said that the event was also unrelated to a rally against the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court planned for next Saturday and as such, the crown princes were upset when Lokman purportedly linked both when announcing the ‘Santai Teh Tarik’ session.
“This programme was organised with a good intention, which is to bring the four princes to mix with the people.
“But Lokman is not the organiser. It never was Lokman. He only happened to know about this programme.
“It was supposed to be an interesting event hosted by the four princes where the people get to mingle with them. I don’t know how it reached Lokman’s ears.
“If you see from his (Lokman’s) messages, he tried to link this event with another event on May 4, when it is totally unrelated,” the source was quoted as saying.
Yesterday, Lokman sent out a WhatsApp message to the media which contained a poster for the ‘Santai Teh Tarik’ event.
He said: “I will be attending the teh tarik session and I will also attend the ‘Mega rally against the Rome Statute: In defence of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy’ gathering at Dataran Merdeka at 2pm (next) Saturday.”
An hour after issuing the statement, however, Lokman sent out another information blast on WhatsApp, stating the event may not happen due to several “phone calls.”
According to Malaysiakini, the source, who is close to a crown prince from a southern state, said that the attempt to link the crown princes to the anti-Rome Statute rally had upset their royal families.
“What upset the four princes, and of course the royal families is the association between these two events. The way Lokman wrote it was as if the princes endorsed the rally, or were the organisers.
“We know they (protesters) are having the rally, and it is okay for them to take their own initiative, but it is not proper to put the messages in one WhatsApp message.”
Lokman has clarified that he only shared the invitation to ensure a good turnout.
“The programme is theirs (princes), I only helped to circulate to encourage people to turn up,” he said in his Facebook posting.
However, he said the circulation among Umno members gave the perception that it was a party event that later prompted a possible postponement.
Lokman, who hails from Johor, today said he received a flyer for the event from someone close to the Johor crown prince.
“When the palace got wind of this, a father to one of the crown princes had advised him to postpone the event to avoid talks of the four princes were attending a political event organised by Umno.”
He claimed he wants a good turnout for the event as he loved the Johor sultan and the crown prince.
Lokman also accused Malaysiakini of “spinning” the matter.
“Don’t entertain Malaysiakini’s spin that I was stressed because four crown princes cancelled attending my programme,” he was quoted as saying.
Following his initial announcement, Lokman sent this message on WhatsApp through an info blast: “Stressed. I only wanted to have tea with four crown princes at Mahkota Parade on Monday, but they’re already getting all kinds of phone calls. Looks like the people’s wish to have tea with their crown princes may not happen”.
Yesterday, the Selangor Royal Office denied the involvement of Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in the programme.
Today, the Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Sultan Abdullah also denied involvement in the programme.
Related reports:
Apr 28, Selangor Crown Prince Not Involved in ‘Teh Tarik’ Session
Apr 28, Lokman Adam Claims Getting Heat After Announcing Royal Quartet ‘Teh Tarik’ Session