The police today arrested an individual who claims to be the sultan of Malacca.

Malacca deputy CPO Shah Gzali Khan Shahadat said Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah was being investigated under the Sedition Act.

He said Raja Noor Jan Shah was picked up at 10.50am while travelling to Pulau Besar to attend what is believed to be a thanksgiving function relating to the so-called revival of the Malacca sultanate.

“The arrest was made based on at least 10 reports made by several organisations, including NGOs, which have expressed apprehension after a so-called investiture and invitations to attend the event,” he told reporters.  

On Jan 8, Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron said the Malacca government did not recognise the claim by Raja Noor Jan Shah to be recognised as the sultan of Malacca.

He said then that the state government only recognised the awards and medals bestowed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Mohd Khalil Yaakob.   

Followers not arrested

Shah Gzali Khan said an investigation revealed that about 50 followers of Raja Noor Jan Shah were headed for Pulau Besar, apparently to attend the thanksgiving event.

“None of the followers were arrested. However, it all depends on their actions. Anyone obstructing the police and civil servants in the discharge of their duties will be arrested,” he said.

Melaka CID chief ACP Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah said NGOs, associations and the public lodged the police reports after Raja Noor Jan Shah attempted to garner support and raised public dissatisfaction and anger.
 
"This situation was hyped up to the extent that it caused the people of Malacca to become suspicious of his attempt to garner support for him to be recognised as the sultan of Malacca.
 
"The individuals and NGOs want the police to conduct an investigation because the matter had been circulated widely and has belittled the existing system of government in Malacca," he told a news conference.

Preventing confusion

 
Raja Shahrom said a thorough investigation would be conducted so that the people, particularly the residents of Malacca, would not be confused by the claim of the 57-year-old businessman to be the sultan of Malacca.
 
He said the arrest was also necessary to probe the validity of the letter of recognition as the sultan of Malacca which Raja Noor Jan Shah claimed he had received from the International Court of Justice.
 
"We will also find out who his strong backers are who have prompted him to claim to be the sultan of Malacca. His followers should not harbour any prejudices over his detention because this is a normal investigation and he is well," he said.
 
He said Raja Noor Jan Shah or Noor Jan Tuah, which was his real name, hailed from Kampung Teluk Perang, Parit, Perak, and was detained at the Anjung Batu jetty in Umbai, Jasin, just as he was about to board a boat to Pulau Besar.

- Bernama