I refer to the Malaysiakini report: Kelantan princes fight for succession .

Royalty tends to transfix readers and always fodder for gossip. Sultans and their families, with all the trapping of power and wealth know that with power comes responsibility.

Thus they have to be on their best behaviour in public and their private lives must be beyond reproach.

Malaysia is the only country in the world that has 13 heredity rulers who rule their states until death, the crown princes taking over after the demise of their fathers.

Practically all the royal families in our country can trace their lineages to the children of the first ruler of Melaka.

Thus the issue of a brother of a 'regent' taking his majesty to court on the exclusion of his name from the succession plan is interesting read.

Earlier the younger brother was involved in a much publicised court battle with his estranged wife who happens to be a young model from Indonesia.

Although the syariah court has given the young prince a court judgment of RM 1.1 million and ordered her to return to her husband , it looks like it will be a 'paper judgment' as neither of these orders by the court will be fulfilled by her.

The lurid details on how the young wife was tortured by her husband while they were together made good gossip. Indonesia had a field day reporting on the private issues of the couple, which could only harm the reputation of the royal household of Kelantan.

Thus one is not surprised that his brother who is the acting Sultan of the state in the absence of their critically-ill father, decided to remove his younger brother from the succession plan.

The younger prince's antics have likely embarrassed the royal household of the state.

Mind you, the young prince from Kelantan is not the only royal who has shamed family members. Other minor princes from other royal families also seem to be involved in one mishap or other.

All this misbehaviour serves to give the impression that the royalties feel and act as if they are above the law.

Although we are a feudal society, royal families especially the minor princes must bear in mind that as time changes, society changes as well.

Royal families from other states should emulate the good example of the royal households of Perak and Selangor whose offspring conduct themselves with dignity.

Proper decorum and good public manners should be guidelines for royal families to follow in order to win public support from the common people.

Thailand and Japan have royals who have won public support among their citizens for their humble ways.

Their children do not use their father's position to go into business in a big way and would not dare embarrass their family's names.

Other countries like Indonesia, India, Iran and lately Nepal have thrown out their royal families and become a republic due to political influence. Few countries now allow royalty to have absolute power.

Although we are nowhere near a republic, royal families need to behave in public and not do anything which can lower the dignity of their rulers in the eyes of the common people.

As the Malay saying goes Raja adil, Raja disembah, Raja zalim, Raja disanggah (a just king will be revered, an unjust king reviled).