Police detained a senior Kelantan palace official who holds the title of "Datuk" at his residence in Taman Sri Aman, Kubang Kerian here today.

A police source said the man was detained at 9pm and was being investigated under Section 419 of the Penal Code (cheating by impersonation).

"We detained him tonight so that we could record a statement," the source said when contacted by Bernama .

It was reported earlier today that the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Ismail Petra Yahya Petra, had stripped the post of Regent from Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra with immediate effect.

The decision was said to have been conveyed by Tuanku Ismail Petra to Tengku Abdul Aziz Hamazah, 76, the chairman of the State Council of Regency and that the announcement read out by the Sultan's private secretary, Wan Hashim Wan Daud, at Istana Mahkota, today.

However, following the announcement, which was carried in the websites of the mainstream media, the council's secretary Mohd Aiseri Alias announced that Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Tengku Ismail Petra was still the Regent as his appointment to the post was done in accordance to the state constitution.

- Bernama

KELANTAN ROYAL FAMILY - WHO'S WHO

Kelantan sultan

Sultan Ismail Petra , who suffered a stroke last May and said to be incapacitated.

Raja Perempuan

Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid

Elia Suhana Ahmad (second wife). A divorce was filed on March 9 by the sultan through a third party.

Children

No 1 son: Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra (acting regent)

No 2 son: Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra

No 3 son: Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra (he is challenging elder brother over succession and was expelled by Tengku Faris from the Council of Royal Succession. Muhammad Fakhry was last year embroiled in a controversy over the alleged abuse of his teen wife, Manohara Odelia Pinot)

Daughter: Tengku Amalin A'ishah Putri

Second acting regent

Tengku Abdul Aziz Hamzah:

He was chairperson of the Council of Royal Succession, where it was declared on March 25 that he was replacing Tengku Muhammad Faris as acting regent. Abdul Aziz is elder brother of Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

But his appointment was said to be illegal as it allegedly did not obtain the consent of the council. Tengku Muhammad Faris remains the regent.

Tengku Muhammad Faris sacked Tengku Abdul Aziz on March 26 from chairing the council, and replaced him with the Tengku Abdul Halim Al-Haj, who is said to be a grand-uncle to Faris.

Tengku Razaleigh is Raja perempuan Tengku Anis' uncle.