The Malay rulers were only airing the people’s concerns when they issued a statement on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad therefore believes that the rulers did not interfere in the government’s affairs and were merely responding to public dissatisfaction with the probe into the company owned by the Ministry of Finance.

"That's why the Malay rulers requested the government to answer the questions raised by the people.

"The Malay rulers gave their views and this does not mean they are interfering with government's administration, but when the people ask their rulers through demonstrations and others because they are not getting the response from the government, they request their rulers to state their dissatisfaction towards the government," he was quoted by The Malaysian Insider .

Mahathir said this after attending the ‘Impact of economic issues on Malaysian workers’ forum by the National Union of Bank Employees.

Mahathir added that the government should address the people’s concerns and worries surrounding the 1MDB imbroglio.

“I think the government should respond (and) not talk about division of power between the sultans or rajas and the elected government.

“People now, they try to complain, try to report to the police but all of them are rejected so they have no means of trying to get the government to listen to them,” he said in the report.

The Conference of Rulers on Tuesday had decreed that the investigation into 1MDB be completed as soon as possible and the wrongdoers, if any, be punished.

"The findings of this investigation must be reported in full and transparently, so the people can be convinced of the government's sincerity that it will never hide the facts and the truth,” said the statement from the rulers, which was issued by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.

"Failure to give an explanation and satisfactory answers may cause a confidence crisis.”