The Kelantan palace says it again - the row between teen model Manohara Odelia Pinot and her royal husband, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Sultan Ismail, is a personal matter.

manohara odelia pinot tengku fakhry kelantan The palace issued a statement today through state news agency Bernama , reiterating that it was not involved in the marital dispute between Muhammad Fakhry, who is the third prince, and his estranged bride.

Royal palace coordinator Abdul Halim Hamad said that the row had “nothing to do with” Muhammad Fathry’s father, Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra, and his elder brother, Crown Prince Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra.

"It is hoped that the issue will be resolved fairly according to the law. I hope both of them will be given enough space to solve their problems," he said.

Abdul Halim added that the statement was issued as instructed by the crown prince.

The unusual move is widely seen as an attempt by the palace to shield itself from potential fallout from the scandal.

Second statement in two weeks

This is the second time that the palace has issued such a statement distancing itself from the embarrassing row.

Last Tuesday, the sultan’s office issued a statement stating that “the sultan should not, and should never, be implicated in the matter”.

Manohara, 17, had said that she was treated like a sex slave after her marriage last year to Muhammad Fakhry, 31.

She escaped the prince's bodyguards at a Singapore hotel and returned to her family in Indonesia with tales of abuse, rape and torture.