The invitation from the Conference of Rulers to Dr Mahathir Mohamad to attend the installation of the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Dec 13 at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur has been purportedly withdrawn.

The former premier’s aide told Malaysiakini that a letter regarding the alleged revocation dated Dec 5 was hand-delivered to the Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya yesterday.

The letter bearing the signature of the Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad has also been circulated on social media.

The aide also confirmed the contents of the alleged letter, marked "sulit" (confidential), where it is mentioned that no chair would be provided at the event and that the former premier was being informed of this beforehand to spare him any embarrassment.

Mahathir’s daughter Marina also posted the letter on her Facebook page.

Contacted later, an official with Istana Negara declined to comment on the matter or confirm the letter.

Whereas, no senior officers were available for comment at the office of the Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal.

The Conference of Rulers has consented to declare Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong effective Dec 13.

The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzudin Shah, was appointed as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Sultan Muhammad V will be succeeding Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who ended his five-year term as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Dec 12.

In an immediate reaction former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan questioned the rationale behind the move and on whose orders it was carried out under.

He argued that while Mahathir is no longer a supporter of the present ruling party, the good doctor is still a citizen of the country who had served it well for 22 years as PM.

Khairuddin said that the palace should be above partisan politics and should be impartial in such matters.