Tengku Abdul Halim Alhaj Sultan Ibrahim has been named to chair the State Succession Council (MPN) which decides on the Kelantan monarchy, replacing Tengku Abdul Aziz Hamzah whom the Sultan had appointed as Regent.
MPN secretary Datuk Mohd Aiseri Alias had said Tengku Abdul Aziz's appointment was illegal and the Ruler’s son, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra (top), is still the Regent.
Police are still holding the Ruler's private secretary, Datuk Wan Hashim Wan Daud, after he announced that the Sultan had replaced his heir as Regent in favour of Tengku Abdul Aziz.
“We are still investigating him (Wan Hashim),” a source told The Malaysian Insider.
However, the source declined to reveal the royal aide’s actual location.
The palace crisis was earlier sparked off when Wan Hashim had announced that the investiture ceremony as well as the celebration of the Ruler’s 60th birthday on March 30 and 31 have been cancelled.
The Comptroller of the Kelantan Royal Household, Datuk Abdul Halim Hamad, refuted Wan Hashim's announcement, saying the royal aide was not authorised to make such announcements.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the confusion over the Sultan's birthday celebration had resulted in the palace sending out the invitation cards twice to ensure that guests were not influenced by news of the cancellation.
State lawmakers have acquiesced to a royal decree to attend the investiture, but did not want to be drawn into the controversy.
“I have ordered all representatives to attend the celebration, we all have to listen to the right directives,” said the Kelantan PAS backbenchers chief Abdullah Yakub.
Another lawmaker insisted that their presence at the Sultan’s birthday is not a political statement.
“It is not a celebration held as a show of support to anyone, it is an official state function; I have confirmed my attendance,” said a Kelantan MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject.
“As far as I am concerned, the Regent is now performing the duties of the Sultan,” he added, commenting on the removal of the Regent.
Another Kelantan lawmaker, who had also confirmed his attendance, hoped the crisis would be resolved soon, saying that it has not only caused confusion among the public but also among politicians.
“This is a very straightforward issue; based on the constitution, Tengku Faris is the Regent so he acts as the Ruler of Kelantan,” said the MP, adding that all his colleagues will turn up and ignore the palace crisis.
“Following his defiance to not proceed with the investiture ceremony as well as the celebration of the Sultan’s 60th birthday, and due to his failure in undertaking his responsibilities to protect His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Kelantan has decided to remove Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra as the Regent of Kelantan,” Wan Hashim announced at a press conference in Istana Mahkota, Kubang Kerian yesterday.
Wan Hashim was later picked up by the police after a report made by Kelantan Administrators Association chairman Shafien Ismail in relation to Tengku Muhammad Faris’ removal as Regent.
Bernama has reported that he is being investigated under section 419 of the Sedition Act.
After Wan Hashim's arrest, the MPN met last night with the express purpose of removing Tengku Abdul Aziz, who was only yesterday confirmed as the head of the council, and to appoint a new chairman after yesterday’s developments.
Tengku Muhammad Faris was appointed Regent in May last year after his father was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.
Sultan Ismail returned to Kelantan on March 4 amid the crisis within the MPN.
Meanwhile, according to executive councillor, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, the change in succession council’s leadership was not against the state constitution and was, therefore, valid.
“The Regent, in assuming the duties of the Sultan, is empowered to appoint or remove (the council head).
“According to the constitution, the Sultan has absolute say in the matter, thus the Regent is carrying out the functions of the Sultan when makes the appointment.
“Legally, the Regent also has absolute power,” said Takiyuddin, who added that there was no recourse to challenge the Regent’s decision.
He also declined to comment on Wan Hashim’s detention, but briefly said “the police were simply doing their duty after receiving a report.”
Kelantan police chief, Datuk Rahim Hanifi also refused to elaborate on the matter when met at the state secretariat building this morning, brushing off questions by saying: “Sorry, I cannot comment on the matter.
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