The State Council of Regency today announced the appointment of Tengku Laksamana Kelantan Tengku Abdul Halim Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim as its new chairman to replace Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mohd Hamzah.

Council secretary Mohd Aiseri Alias told a press conference in Kota Bharu that Tengku Abdul Halim's appointment was effective yesterday after the cancellation of Tengku Abdul Aziz's appointment, also effective yesterday.

The announcement today was made on the order of the Regent, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, the Kelantan Sultan's eldest son, who is also the crown prince.

Also present at the press conference were the comptroller of the Kelantan Royal Household Abdul Halim Hamad and deputy state secretary, Shafie Ismail.

Mohd Aiseri said the Regent had consented the appointment of Tengku Abdul Halim as the new chairman of the State Council of Regency.

Yesterday, Tengku Abdul Aziz with the title Tengku Seri Utama Raja was named as the new regent of Kelantan after the Sultan Ismail Petra was claimed to have taken away the post from his son, Tengku Muhammad Faris, with immediate effect.

Sultan informed

The decision was said to have been conveyed by the sultan to Tengku Abdul Aziz following which the latter's appointment was announced by the sultan's private secretary Wan Hashim Wan Daud at Istana Mahkota in Kota Bharu.

However, following the announcement which was reported by the mainstream media websites, Mohd Aiseri publicly stated that Tengku Muhammad Faris was still the Regent as his appointment on May 29 last year was approved by two-thirds of the State Council of Regency members.

Mohd Aiseri, who is also the state secretary, said the announcement made by Wan Hashim on Tengku Muhammad Faris's dismissal as regent and being replaced by Tengku Abdul Aziz was ineffective as it did not represent the council.

Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is the elder brother of Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, was also said to have acted on his own without calling for a meeting of the Council.

Meanwhile, a police report was lodged by Shafie against Wan Hashim at 10.20am after the press conference following his action yesterday.

It was reported that at 9pm yesterday, police arrested a senior court official with the 'datuk' title at his residence in Taman Sri Aman, Kubang Kerian, in Kota Bharu, in connection with the announcement of Tengku Muhammad Faris's dismissal as the Regent of Kelantan.

Police sources said the arrest was made under Section 419 of the Penal Code for alleged cheating by personation.

- 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.