Appointment of new Sultan of Kelantan challenged (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra has filed a petition in the Federal Court to declare the proclamation of his eldest son as the Kelantan Sultan as unconstitutional, one of his lawyers, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, said here Monday.

He said the court would also be asked to intervene and declare Tuanku Ismail as the rightful Sultan.

He said Tuanku Ismail does not accept or recognise the appointment of Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra ibni Sultan Ismail Petra as the Sultan during the proclamation on Sept 13.

“We have issued a press statement on Sept 12 requesting Tuanku Muhammad Faris who is the Regent not to proceed with his installation as the Sultan and prejudicing our client,” he told a press conference.

Tuanku Muhammad Faris was appointed Regent on May 24, 2009.

Cumaraswamy said Tuanku Ismail had already filed a petition seeking the opinion of the Federal Court on whether the Regent has the full power of the Sultan to reconstitute the Council of Succession on May 5 this year.

In the petition, they had also sought the Federal Court's opinion on whether the Regent has the power to remove any member of the Council of Succession appointed by the Sultan and to appoint other persons in their place.

He said a second petition was filed on June 22 on additional questions relating to the fundamental liberties of the Sultan.

He said the Federal Court had set Oct 3 to hear the first two petitions but believes that the third petition would also be included at the hearing.

“We have requested for a full bench to hear the petitions in an independent and impartial manner,” he said.

Related Stories: Proclamation of new Ruler legal, says law expert Tuanku Faris proclaimed new Ruler of Kelantan Regent ascends to Kelantan throne in special ceremony Kelantan MB is unaware that regent is to be made Sultan