Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat believes the proclamation of Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra Ibni Sultan Ismail Petra ( below ) as the new sultan of Kelantan will end the royal tussle in the state.

Nik Aziz also urged the people of Kelantan to offer their undivided loyalty to the new sultan. He said the proclamation would end speculation on the rightful heir to the throne since Sultan Ismail Petra suffered a stroke in May last year.

tengku faris kelantan 130910 He was speaking to reporters after presenting the instrument of proclamation to the sultan of Kelantan at the Istana Negeri in Kubang Kerian earlier today.

Nik Aziz said over the past one year he had faced various difficulties when trying to explain the feud between members of the Kelantan royal family to the people of Kelantan.

Meanwhile, Kelantan state secretary Mohd Aiseri Alias said the proclamation of Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra as the new sultan of Kelantan was in accordance with the state constitution.

He said Article 23A of the state constitution (second part) provided for the Council of Succession, after conducting an investigation and finding that the sultan had a major handicap or illness, to appoint a successor in accordance with certain conditions.

A unanimous decision

"The Council of Succession, at its meeting today, felt that a successor should be appointed to take over from Tuanku Ismail Petra under Article 23A of the state constitution (second part).

"It was a unanimous decision of the Council of Succession by the 15 members who attended the meeting this morning, who, according to the provision, selected, appointed and confirmed Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra as the sultan," he told a news conference at the Istana Negeri in Kubang Kerian after an audience to present the instrument of proclamation to the new sultan.

azlan The meeting of the Council of Succession was held at the office of the state secretary at Kota Darul Naim. It was not attended by two members, namely Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is an uncle of the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan, and Tengku Amalin A'Ishah Puteri, the youngest daughter of the sultan.

Aiseri said Article 23A of the state constitution (second part) was an amendment which was gazetted on July 22 after the Council of Succession met on July 18 to enable the amendment to the second part to be made through an announcement.

"The amendment was most necessary to fill a void in the state constitution pertaining to the ailment of Tuanku Ismail Petra, which His Royal Highness suffered beginning May 14, 2009, and which is feared will prolong," he said.

Royal issues

He said the amendment was associated with, among other things, the dismissal, withdrawal or abdication of the throne by the sultan or his successors as well as the appointment and characteristics of successors to the sultan, royal consort or regent, as well as members of the state council of regency.

"I hope this statement further explains the decision of the state Council of Succession as mentioned earlier," he said.

– Bernama