The Johor royal family maintains a position of 'strict neutrality' on all matters related to national-level politics, said Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said in a Facebook post today.

He also condemned the increasing number of false statements purportedly issued by various members of the Johor royal family being circulated on social media lately.

He focused on a posting titled 'Terkini ringgit jatuh RM4.4' (Ringgit now falls to RM4.4).

"I wish to make it absolutely clear that no such statement was ever issued by me or my office and I regard this action as defamatory and reprehensible," he said.

He also cited another posting by a young woman from Batu Pahat, who he claimed had circulated a rumour on social media about his wife, Johor Sultanah Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris.

The rumour had purportedly said that Raja Zarith Sofiah had ordered a ban on the solat and azan, Sultan Ibrahim said.

"This cheap publicity stunt by this individual deeply hurt my wife," he said.

This is the age of social media, he added, and the royal family is using the medium to reach out and stay connected with the people of Johor.

However, he lamented that there are those who are misusing the media to seek attention, and he urged netizens to verify the authenticity of social media postings before blindly believing in them.

"Any statement issued by any member of the Johor royal family, will only be done so through our official Facebook accounts.

"The more inflammatory and sensational the story, the more the intelligent reader should be wary of the source, and his or her bad intentions," he said.