There are no legal constraints on the Sultan of Selangor to express his opinion on government policy pertaining to his subjects' interests.

In fact, according to the Elders of The Council of The Royal Court of Selangor, the sultan has a right under the state constitution to be consulted, to advise and to warn in matters pertaining to these.

The council added that it was also within the constitutional parameters for the sultan to express his views or make his opinions known in any issue which involved the people's interests.

"We are of the view that there is no legal constraint for the sultan to express his opinions concerning any matter within the parameters of his domain, namely the state's affairs.

"Indeed, it is the sultan's right to express his opinion on government policy," the council said in a statement today.

The council was responding to a recent statement by DAP chairperson Karpal Singh that there was a disturbing trend of rulers interfering in state government affairs.

The DAP politician is being investigated for sedition now following his remarks against the Sultan of Perak over the transfer of the state's Religious Department director Jamry Sury.

In his series of remarks on the matter, Karpal had also implied that the Sultan of Selangor too was meddling in the state administrative matters.

Baseless and unfounded

The council pointed out that Karpal's remarks against the Selangor sultan were baseless, unfounded and irresponsible.

"The council believes that this statement was somewhat made to create a misconception in the minds of the people as to the role of His Royal Highness as the Sultan of Selangor, who is merely exercising his rights as enshrined in the state constitution.

"It is within our knowledge that the Sultan of Selangor in his weekly meeting with the Menteri Besar of Selangor has always given his views and advices in matters of importance to the people of Selangor," the council said.

The council, however, stressed that the sultan had always maintained his neutral stance as well as upheld his detachment of any political preference or interference on executive matters.

"We would like to emphasise that the sultan is politically impartial," added the council.

The council said the sultan's sole concern was the people's well-being and the interests of the state to ensure his subjects would continue to enjoy peace, harmony and prosperity.

Among members of the council are Mohd Azmi Kamaruddin, Abu Hassan Omar, Jeneral (Rtd) Mohd Hashim Mohd Ali, Syed Yusof Syed Nasir, Abdul Halim Abdul Rauf and Raja Wan Mahmood Pawanteh.