No official letter over King’s position – Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he has not received any letter or official indication on claims that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, would abdicate.

“I didn’t receive any letter or any official indication about anything. So, I am not going to talk about rumours,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council, here.

He was asked to comment on talk that the Conference of Rulers had allegedly met recently amid speculation over the status of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Asked whether such a meeting was held, Dr Mahathir said he was not aware of it and only heard rumours, like members of the public.

Asked if Sultan Muhammad V has resumed duties as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Prime Minister responded: “As far as I know.”

Asked to comment on the criticism of the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, against the Pakatan Harapan federal government, Dr Mahathir said the Johor prince did not understand the concept of the federal government.

“He does not understand what’s federation. He was not born then, but I was. We formed a federation, meaning that the federation had jurisdiction over the whole country,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said the federal government has the right to make statements on issues in the states.

“We have a list of what comes under the jurisdiction of the federation and what comes under the states. It is not stated that the federation cannot issue statements … that when a state issues a statement, we cannot comment on that,” he said.

Tunku Ismail had reportedly reminded the Pakatan Harapan government not to politicise issues and to focus on the administration of the country. - Bernama