Kelantan regent Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra has withdrawn his civil suit challenging the validity of the appointment of his uncle, Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Hamzah, as the regent.

The matter came up for mention in chambers today before Kuala Lumpur High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Aziah Ali.

azlan Counsel Zainur Zakaria informed Aziah that Tengku Muhammad Faris (right) was withdrawing the suit with liberty to file afresh. However, Zainur did not give any grounds for the withdrawal.

On March 30, Tengku Muhammad Faris had applied for an injunction to stop Tengku Abdul Aziz, from representing or claiming to be the Kelantan regent, and also from interfering in the execution of related duties.

The crown prince, who is the eldest son of the sultan, claimed he is still the regent after being appointed by the Kelantan Succession Council last May, after his father fell ill  and could not handle state matters.

He claimed the pronouncement by State Secretary Wan Hashim Wan Daud had caused confusion and uneasiness to the people of Kelantan. Subsequently, Wan Hashim was arrested and remanded for several days, but has since been released.

A certificate of urgency was filed with the application to expedite the hearing in light of the political scenario in the state, which has caused anxiety in the administration.

NONE Apart from Tengku Abdul Aziz, the crown prince had named his younger brother Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra (left) and Wan Hashim.

Tengku Faris had applied for a further injunction to restrain all three defendants whether by themselves or their agents from acting on behalf of the sultan, and from interfering in the Kelantan government's administration.

He also wanted the court to declare that Wan Hashim has no authority to act on behalf of the sultan in regard to affairs of the palace and state.

Tengku Faris had asked for costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

‘Abuse of process’

After the suit was withdrawn, lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, acting for Wan Hashim, said his client also reserves his right to take up issues of abuse of process, should the need arise.

On March 25, Wan Hashim had declared Tengku Abdul Aziz as regent, which led to a tussle in the Kelantan royal household.

The next day, the State Council of Regency cancelled the appointment as well as replaced Tengku Abdul Aziz as head of the council.

Tengku Laksamana Kelantan Tengku Abdul Halim Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim was named as the new chairperson.