1. These self-explanatory newspaper reports are hereby referred to:
i. “Third petition filed against son's ascension” dan “Petisyen ketiga bantah pelantikan sultan baru”, Malaysiakini, 20 September 2010.
ii. “Tuanku Ismail to challenge heir’s ascension” dan “Pemasyhuran Sultan Kelantan tak sah, Tuanku Ismail mahu cabar”, The Malaysian Insider, 20 September 2010.
iii. “Ousted sultan mounts legal challenge”, AFP, 20 September 2010.
iv. “Sultan Ismail files 3rd petition against son”, New Straits Times, 21 September 2010, muka surat 1.
v. “Petisyen cabar Sultan Kelantan difail”, Kosmo!, 21 September 2010, muka surat 2.
vi. “Proclamation challenged”, The Star, 21 September 2010, muka surat N4.
vii. “Pemasyhuran Sultan Kelantan dicabar”, Utusan Malaysia, 21 September 2010, muka surat 5.
viii. “Tuanku Ismail fail petisyen lantikan Sultan Kelantan tidak sah”, Berita Harian, 21 September 2010, muka surat 8.
ix. “Bekas Sultan Kelantan mohon isytihar pemasyhuran tidak ikut perlembagaan”, Sinar Harian, 21 September 2010, muka surat N14.
2. Serious as it seems to appear at first, we would like to advise all of you folks to just be cool and not to be that alarmed.
3. You see, this Param Cumaraswamy, though used to be the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (from 1994 to 2003) besides being, among others, Chair of the Malaysian Bar Council (from 1986 to 1988), is either not that intelligent or has an unknown personal agenda/interest in this whole scheme of thing.
4. We ask you folks: Was it not stupid (besides potential others) of this Param Cumaraswamy to HAVE BOLDLY CLAIMED THAT Tuanku Ismail Petra is able to continue serving as Sultan of Kelantan, THAT the affidavits were prepared on Tuanku Ismail Petra’s instructions and were signed by him and THAT Tuanku Ismail Petra is fully aware of his environment WITHOUT HIM HAVING SEEN TUANKU ISMAIL PETRA AT ALL?
5. We hereby would like to ask this stupid Param Cumaraswamy to answer these same questions that we asked the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan in our “Posting 29: Is Tengku Temenggong Ignorant Or Lawless?”:
(i) Can it be conclusively proven that Tuanku Ismail Petra can now sign documents? What we at The Kelantan Insider know is that Tuanku Ismail Petra still cannot do so (in fact there was already an instance where documents (cheques) purportedly signed by Tuanku Ismail Petra were rejected by a business entity (a local bank) for not being authentic enough).
(ii) Can it be conclusively proven that Tuanku Ismail Petra can now arrive at complex decisions as opposed to very simple decisions pertaining to his basic necessities? What we at The Kelantan Insider know, from our personal encounters with him and from reports from others, is that Tuanku Ismail Petra still cannot do so (what he is capable of doing is just to utter a few simple words (just like when he uttered the words “lap (gelap), akut (takut)” when he was driven around the town during one Ramadhan night by the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan). Hence, it is highly unthinkable for Tuanku Ismail Petra to have instructed (he can just utter simple words, you see) this stupid Param Cumaraswamy, or anyone else for that matter, on complex subject matters that Tuanku Ismail Petra himself could not understand.
6. It is interesting to note that Tengku Dato’ Merjan Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra (besides her husband, Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mohamed Hamzah) was also present at the press conference given by this stupid Param Cumaraswamy. For your information, folks, when Tuanku Ismail Petra was first admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia on that fateful 14 May 2009, it was this Tengku Dato’ Merjan who was seen and heard by many as frantically storming into Tuanku Ismail Petra’s ward and screaming to Tuanku Ismail Petra’s wife: “Mu buwi makan gapo kor adik aku sampai jadi gini mor ni!”. As to why this Tengku Dato’ Merjan has been having a change of heart these days, well, only God knows.
7. Coming back to our subject matters, we would like to remind all of you folks of the content of a judgment (on the things being talked about by this stupid Param Cumaraswamy) of a High Court Judge, Justice Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, on 29 January 2010, in which he ruled that these things were “non-justiciable” (could not be challenged in or tried by any court of law), that “the definition of the term “His Royal Highness” under the Kelantan Constitution would refer to the Regent in cases when the Sultan is incapacitated from attending to the affairs of the state” and that “there is no limitation imposed to the Regent to exercise his power and functions during the period” (Please read our “Posting 32: Inilah Penjelasan Yang Dimaksudkan” to read The Star’s report on this judgment).
8. If this judgment of Justice Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof is not convincing enough (what else is, then?), then we would also like to remind all of you folks of the de facto Law Minister, Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz,’s (besides Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia’s Law Professor, Dr Abdul Aziz Bari,’s) take on Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra’s proclamation (as reported by Malaysiakini on 13 September 2010). These are what Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri said: “The federal government considers as valid the appointment of Regent Tengku Mohamad Faris Petra as Kelantan's new ruler”, “It falls under the jurisdiction of the council of succession and the federal government accepts whatever the decision that the council comes up with” and “the courts could not intervene in this matter”. Such strong, if not definitive, statements from Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri, yet not a single mainstream newspaper had the initiative to pick them up, we wonder why.
9. Then there was this report from Berita Harian, dated 15 September 2010 (Pemasyhuran Tuanku Faris tak boleh dicabar), highlighting the Attorney General Office’s statement that the proclamation is indeed valid. We quote the said report: “Sumber dari Pejabat Peguam Negara pula berkata, pemasyhuran itu sah mengikut perundangan, malah kerajaan negeri atau pusat juga tidak boleh campur tangan” and “Katanya, berdasarkan pengamatan Pejabat Peguam Negara, segala prosedur perundangan yang diperlukan untuk mengisytihar Pemangku Raja sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru juga dipatuhi MPN”.
10. Hereby is attached the relevant newspaper reports.
Allahu Akbar.
“Third petition filed against son's ascension”
(Malaysiakini, 20 September 2010)
Joseph Sipalan
Sep 20, 10
4:24pm
The tussle for Kelantan's throne is set to go straight to the Federal Court with Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra seeking to declare the ascension of his eldest son Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra Ismail Petra as Sultan as unconstitutional.
Tuanku Ismail filed a third petition this morning seeking the apex court's ruling on two points of contention in Tuanku Muhammad Faris' (left) rise to the throne in his father's absence.
Cumaraswamy, who is on Tuanku Ismail's team of lawyers, argued that Tuanku Muhammad Faris, while serving as regent, had no powers to amend the state constitution nor was he in a position to appoint new members on the Council of Succession.
Tuanku Ismail's affidavit claims that Tuanku Muhammad Faris had - after being appointed regent on May 24 last year - replaced in stages members of the Council of Succession with new appointees.
Among those removed were his brother and tengku temenggong of Kelantan Tengku Muhamad Fakhry Petra and the Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mohd Hamzah, the husband of his aunt, Tengku Merjan Yahya Petra.
The affidavit also questions the validity of a new provision Article 23A that Tuanku Muhammad Faris added to the state constitution when he served as regent.
The article on “Loss of sovereignty owing to great and serious defect”, allows the Council of Succession to appoint a successor as and when a ruler is considered to have “some great and serious defect derogatory to the quality of a sovereign”.
Petitions heard next month
Cumaraswamy said the first two petitions, filed on May 5 and June 22 this year, are scheduled to be heard by the Federal Court on Oct 23 and expects the third petition to be heard at the same time.
The apex court is expected to decide whether or not it has the jurisdiction to make a ruling in this case as it involves the royalty, whose cases are generally handled by a Special Court.
"We hope for a full bench (at the Federal Court) to discuss this issue, which is very far reaching and may impact other states which have sultans," said Cumaraswamy (left) at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
"This entire issue will be a test for our entire judiciary."
Cumaraswamy revealed that their third petition will focus on questioning the events leading to Tuanku Muhammad Faris' ascension to the throne.
“This is tied to the question of whether the entire process is constitutional... the amendment, the appointments to the council of succession; it is all interlinked. We can't split hairs here.
“The very fact that this issue is here, means the Sultan is still the Sultan and whatever that was done is unconstitutional,” he said.
'Tuanku Ismail fully aware'
Cumaraswamy brushed aside speculation that the Tuanku Ismail's deteriorating health has made him unfit for duty, saying the affidavits were prepared on his orders and (were) signed (by) him.
He vouched for the ruler's ability to continue serving as Sultan of Kelantan, despite admitting not having seen the Sultan.
“He instructed us and he signed the affidavit. He is fully aware of his environment and everything around him. I have not seen him myself, but I don't think I will have a problem accessing him,” he said.
The legal tussle between Tuanku Ismail (left) and his son has been going on for several months now, culminating in Tuanku Muhammad Faris's proclamation as the new Sultan on Sept 13.
Tuanku Muhammad Faris' moves to replace appointees on the Council of Succession and to amend the state constitution drew flak from his family, including from his aunt Tengku Merjan, who has been one of the most vocal in opposing his rise to the throne.
Tengku Merjan, Tuanku Ismail's elder sister, had said before that Tuanku Muhammad Faris' ascension ran contrary to the state constitution.
She even filed a police report earlier in April, claiming that a conspiracy was under way to overthrow her brother from the throne.
“Petisyen ketiga bantah pelantikan sultan baru”
(Malaysiakini, 20 September 2010)
Joseph Sipalan
Sep 20, 10
6:50pm
Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra memfailkan petisyen ketiga di Mahkamah Persekutuan hari ini untuk mendapatkan pengisytihan bahawa pelantikan anakandanya Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai sultan adalah tidak sah.
Dalam petisyen itu, Tuanku Ismail memohon keputusan mahkamah tertinggi itu terhadap dua perkara berkaitan pelantikan Tuanku Muhammad Faris menduduki takhta ketika ketiadaan ayahandanya.
Param Cumaraswamy dari pasukan peguam yang mewakili Tuanku Ismail, berhujah bahawa Tuanku Muhammad Faris - ketika menjadi pemangku raja - tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk meminda perlembagaan negeri atau dalam kedudukan untuk melantik anggota Majlis Perajaan Kelantan.
Dalam dua petisyen sebelum ini - yang difailkan pada 5 Mei dan 22 Jun tahun ini - dijadualkan untuk didengar oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 23 Oktober dan petisyen ketiga dijangka didengar pada masa yang sama.
Bercakap dalam satu sidang akhbar, Param berkata pihaknya berharap panel penuh hakim di Mahkamah Persekutuan akan membincangkan isu tersebut yang mungkin memberi impak kepada negeri-negeri lain yang mempunyai sultan.
Menurutnya lagi, isu ini akan menjadi satu ujian kepada keseluruhan bidang kehakiman.
“Tuanku Ismail to challenge heir’s ascension”
(The Malaysian Insider, 20 September 2010)
UPDATED @ 05:08:20 PM 20-09-2010
By Neville Spykerman
September 20, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Lawyers acting for Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra today said the proclamation of his eldest son as the Kelantan Sultan was unconstitutional and would be challenged in court.
“Tuanku Ismail Petra is still the Sultan and we are seeking for the intervention of the Federal Court,” said Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, one of his lawyers.
He said Tengku Muhammad Faris was proclaimed as Sultan, on September 13, despite issues of law which were pending in the Federal Court.
Param claimed the proclamation prejudiced the position of his client.
The two questions before the Federal Court are whether the Regent has the full powers of the Sultan to reconstitute the Council of Succession and to amend the state constitution to facilitate his assent to the throne.
Param pointed out there are two legal issues that arise from the purported amendment and the appointment of the Regent as Sultan.
Firstly, he said it was premature for the Regent to arrogate to himself the power conferred to the Sultan considering that the issue was being considered by the Federal Court.
“Secondly, it seems invidious that the Council of Succession, whose very existence is in dispute, can choose and appoint the Regent as Sultan,” he said.
Today, a third petition was filed to specifically ask the opinion of the Federal Court on whether Tengku Muhammad Faris, as Regent, had the power under the state constitution to make the amendments.
He said as the issues are before the Federal Court those advising the Regent should desist from any further act which could prejudice the pending petitions.
The Federal Court is schedule to decide if it has jurisdiction to hear the first two petitions on October 23, and Param said it will probably also decided on the third petition.
“We want the Federal Court to sit as full Bench because the case has far-reaching consequences that may affect others states with Sultans,” he said.
Param added the issues were a test on the entire judiciary and whether it’s capable of handing down a verdict which was independent and fair.
He said Tuanku Ismail Petra was fully alert and signed the affidavit for the third petition yesterday.
“Pemasyhuran Sultan Kelantan tak sah, Tuanku Ismail mahu cabar”
(The Malaysian Insider, 20 September 2010)
TERKINI @ 05:46:42 PM 20-09-2010
Oleh Neville Spykerman
September 20, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Sept — Peguam-peguam mewakili Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra berkata, pemasyhuran anakanda sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru minggu lalu tidak sah dari segi perlembagaan dan akan dicabar di mahkamah.
“Tuanku Ismail Petra masih Sultan (yang sah) dan kami akan meminta campur tangan Mahkamah Persekutuan,” kata Datuk Param Cumaraswamy.
Pada sidang media khas 14 September lalu, seorang anggota Majlis Perajaan Negeri (MPN) Kelantan yang juga seorang peguam terkenal, Datuk Mohd Shukri Mohamad berkata majlis pemasyhuran Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru semalam tidak boleh dicabar di mana-mana mahkamah.
Katanya, ini kerana keputusan itu dibuat oleh Majlis Perajaan Negeri Kelantan berdasarkan Pindaan Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri.
“Oleh itu, tiada pihak yang boleh mencabar keputusan MPN dalam urusan pelantikan atau pemasyhuran Sultan Kelantan yang baru kerana ia dibuat mengikut perlembagaan di bawah undang-undang tubuh kerajaan negeri,” katanya.
Mohd Shukri yang mengaku dititahkan oleh Sultan Kelantan untuk mengendalikan sidang media itu juga turut merujuk kepada kenyataan media yang dibuat oleh seorang peguam dari firma guaman Tetuan Rashid Zulkifli mewakili Sultan Ismail Petra Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra semalam yang mempertikaikan keputusan MPN mengadakan majlis pemasyuran pelantikan Sultan Kelantan yang baru itu.
Kata beliau, Tengku Muhammad Faris telah dimasyhurkan sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru pada 13 September meskipun isu-isu perundangan masih dipertimbangkan di Mahkamah Persekutuan.
Param mendakwa istiadat pemasyhuran telah menjejaskan kedudukan anak guamannya.
Dua persoalan yang diketengahkan untuk didengar oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan ialah sama ada Tengku Mahkota mempunyai kuasa penuh sebagai sultan untuk melantik semula Majlis Perajaan Negeri dan untuk meminda perlembagaan negeri bagi membolehkannya menaiki takhta.
Menurut Param, wujud dua isu perundangan ekoran pindaan perlembagaan negeri dan pelantikan Tengku Mahkota sebagai sultan.
Pertamanya, kata beliau, pramasa bagi Tengku Mahkota mengambil alih kuasa yang diberikan kepada sultan memandangkan isu berkenaan masih dipertimbangkan oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan.
Keduanya, menurut beliau, status Majlis Perajaan Negeri sendiri sedang dipertikaikan boleh memilih dan melantik Tengku Mahkota sebagai Sultan Kelantan.
Hari ini, petisyen ketiga difailkan untuk meminta pandangan Mahkamah Persekutuan sama ada Tengku Muhammad Faris sebagai Tengku Mahkota dan Pemangku Sultan mempunyai kuasa di bawah perlembagaan negeri untuk membuat pindaan.
Kata beliau, oleh kerana isu-isu itu kini telah dibawa ke perhatian Mahkamah Persekutuan, maka mereka yang menasihatkan Tengku Mahkota harus mengelak daripada melakukan perkara yang boleh prejudis petisyen didengar.
Mahkamah Persekutuan dijadual untuk memutuskan sama ada mereka mempunyai budi bicara untuk mendengar dua petisyen pertama pada 23 Oktober ini.
Kata Param, kemungkinan mahkamah juga akan memutuskan petisyen yang ketiga.
“Kami mahu panel penuh Mahkamah Persekutuan mendengar kerana kes ini mempunyai kesan mendalam membabitkan negeri-negeri lain yang mempunyai sultan,” kata beliau.
“Ousted sultan mounts legal challenge”
(AFP, 20 September 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian sultan who was ousted as royal ruler of a northeastern state launched a legal challenge today to overrule the "unconstitutional" elevation of his son as the new sultan.
In a shock announcement last week, 40-year-old regent Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra -- who had been locked in a power struggle with his younger brother -- was appointed as the new royal ruler.
Their 60-year-old father Tuanku Ismail Petra was ousted via an amendment to the state constitution which states the sultan shall cease to be the ruler if he is incapacitated for a period of more than one year.
But his counsel Param Cumaraswamy told reporters that despite suffering a stroke in May 2009, the former sultan was "fully aware of the environment around him" and had instructed lawyers to file the affidavit in court today.
"The petition is to seek the Federal Court's intervention to declare the proclaimation of Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra as sultan as unconstitutional and that he is the righful sultan," he said.
Malaysia has nine sultans who are the royal rulers and guardians of Islam in their respective states. Under a unique rotating monarchy, they each take turns to rule for five years as the nation's king.
The royals assume a ceremonial role and rarely speak publicly, so the events in Kelantan -- including earlier allegations that the ailing sultan had been held in hospital against his will -- caused a scandal.
The former sultan's eldest sister Tengku Merjan Sultan Yahya Petra has criticised the appointment of her nephew, saying it was unconstitutional to proclaim a new ruler while her brother was still alive.
Legal experts quoted by the Malaysian press have disagreed and said the move was legal.
Tengku Muhammad Faris and the sultan's third son Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, have been publicly at odds for the past year since the younger brother was removed from the state's succession council, which determines who is the next ruler.
The Kelantan royals were embroiled in another controversy last year when the teenage wife of Tengku Muhammad Fakhry slipped away and returned to her family in Indonesia alleging abuse, rape and torture by the prince.
“Sultan Ismail files 3rd petition against son”
(New Straits Times, 21 September 2010)
By V. Vasudevan
KUALA LUMPUR: The former Kelantan ruler, Sultan Ismail Petra, is seeking to declare the ascension of his eldest son, Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra, to the throne last week as unconstitutional.
Yesterday, Sultan Ismail filed a third petition seeking the Federal Court’s ruling on two points of contention.
Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, who is on Sultan Ismail’s team of lawyers, said the third petition was to specifically ask the opinion of the Federal Court whether Tuanku Faris as regent had the power under Article 3(2) of the Kelantan state constitution to make the amendment provided by Article 23A.
Article 23A allows for the Council of Succession to choose a successor if it found the sovereign no longer capable of carrying out his duties while Article 3(2) provides for the succession, appointment, removal or abdication of the sultan or his heir or heirs.
Param said Tuanku Faris, as regent, had no powers to amend the state constitution or the power to appoint new members on the Council of Succession.
“It seems invidious that the Council of Succession whose very existence is in dispute can choose and appoint the regent as sultan,” said Param.
He noted that Sultan Ismail had already filed two petitions before the Federal Court which were slated for hearing on Oct 23.
The earlier petitions, on May 5 and June 22, centred on the regent’s powers while acting during the sultan’s incapacitation and whether during this time the regent had the power to remove or change members of the Council of Succession.
Param said they hoped the latest petition would also be heard on the same date by a full bench.
“We hope for a full bench (in the Federal Court) to discuss this issue which is very far reaching and may impact other states which have sultans.
“Petisyen cabar Sultan Kelantan difail”
(Kosmo!, 21 September 2010)
Oleh JUNHAIRI ALYASA dan SITI KAMILAH MUSTAPHA
berita@kosmo.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR – Tuanku Ismail Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra (gambar kecil) memfailkan petisyen bagi mencabar pemasyhuran anakandanya, Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru di Mahkamah Persekutuan di sini semalam.
Menurut peguam yang mewakili Tuanku Ismail, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, petisyen tersebut bagi menentukan sama ada Tuanku Muhammad Faris mempunyai kuasa untuk meminda atau menambah Perkara 23A, Undang-Undang Perlembagaan Tubuh Kerajaan Kelantan (Bahagian Yang Kedua).
Jelas beliau, di bawah Artikel 3(2) Bahagian Yang Kedua menyatakan perlembagaan itu boleh dipinda oleh Sultan dengan persetujuan dan penyertaan Majlis Penasihat Raja.
“Tuanku Ismail tidak menerima dan mengiktiraf pemasyhuran Tengku Muhammad Faris.
“Tuanku masih Sultan Kelantan yang sah dan telah mengarahkan kami untuk memfailkan petisyen ini malah Tuanku sendiri menandatangani petisyen ini semalam (kelmarin),” katanya pada satu sidang akhbar di Kelab Taman Tasik Perdana di sini semalam.
Sidang akhbar itu turut dihadiri barisan peguam yang dilantik Tuanku Ismail iaitu Abdul Rashid Ismail, Datuk Hazeeq Pillay, Abdul Halim Bahari dan Nizam Bashir.
Raja Aziz Addruse yang mengetuai barisan peguam Tuanku Ismail tidak hadir pada siding akhbar itu.
Dua lagi peguam, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar dan Gobind Singh Deo turut tidak hadir kerana terlibat inkues kematian Teoh Beng Hock.
Turut hadir kekanda Tuanku Ismail Petra, Tengku Merjan Sultan Yahya Petra dan Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mohd Hamzah.
Pada 13 September lalu, Tengku Muhammad Faris yang ketika itu Pemangku Sultan telah dimasyhurkan sebagai Sultan Kelantan selepas diputuskan oleh mesyuarat Majlis Perajaan Negeri (MPN).
Mesyuarat itu dipengerusikan oleh Pengerusinya yang juga Tengku Laksamana Kelantan, Tengku Abdul Halim Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim.
Kata Param lagi, terdapat dua isu undang-undang yang timbul daripada pindaan undang-undang Perkara 23A dan pemasyhuran Sultan Kelantan baru.
“Yang pertama, memandangkan Tuanku Ismail telah memfailkan petisyen, adalah terlalu awal untuk Tengku Muhammad Faris menggunakan Perkara 23A.
“Perkara kedua pula ialah komposisi MPN yang telah dipertikaikan, boleh memilih dan melantik Pemangku Sultan sebagai Sultan,” jelasnya.
Tambah beliau lagi, semakan kes itu akan didengar di Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 23 Oktober depan.
“Proclamation challenged: Kelantan’s Tuanku Ismail wants court to declare him rightful Sultan”
(The Star, 21 September 2010)
By A. LETCHUMANAN
letchu@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Tuanku Ismail Petra Sultan Yahya Petra has filed a petition in the Federal Court to declare the proclamation of his eldest son as the Sultan of Kelantan unconstitutional.
Counsel Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, one of the lawyers representing the displaced Ruler, said Tuanku Ismail, 60, wants the court to intervene and declare him as the rightful Sultan.
Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat announced on Sept 13 that the state Council of Royal Succession had appointed Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra to replace his father as the Sultan of Kelantan.
The oldest of four siblings, he was made the Tengku Mahkota or crown prince in 1985. He was appointed the Regent on May 24 last year after his father suffered a stroke.
Tuanku Ismail began treatment at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore and, less than 10 months later, returned to his palace in Kota Baru.
Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Param said Tuanku Ismail does not accept or recognise the appointment of Tengku Muhammad Faris as the Sultan.
He added there were two legal issues which had arisen over the purported amendment of the state constitution and the appointment of the Regent as the Sultan.
“It is premature for the Regent to arrogate to himself the power conferred to the Sultan as the issue was still being considered by the Federal Court.
“Secondly, it seems invidious that the Council of Royal Succession, whose very existence is in dispute, can choose and appoint the Regent as the Sultan,” said Param.
He said it was for the Federal Court to determine whether or not Tengku Muhammad Faris, as Regent, had the exclusive powers to amend the constitution.
Param said Tuanku Ismail had already filed two petitions seeking the opinion of the Federal Court on whether the Regent has the full power to reconstitute the Royal Council and question the fundamental liberties of the Sultan.
“The Federal Court had set Oct 23 to decide whether it had the jurisdiction to hear the first two petitions. We believe the third petition would also be included,” he said.
To a question, Param said Tuanku Ismail was fully alert and aware of the developments around him when he signed the affidavit for the petitions on Sunday.
“Pemasyhuran Sultan Kelantan dicabar”
(Utusan Malaysia, 21 September 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR 20 Sept. – Sultan Ismail Petra akan mencabar pemasyhuran anakandanya, Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru di mahkamah.
Menurut peguam baginda, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, Sultan Ismail mengambil keputusan tersebut selepas menyifatkan pelantikan Tuanku Muhammad Faris sebagai tidak mengikut perlembagaan.
“Tuanku Ismail masih sultan yang sah dan kami akan meminta campur tangan Mahkamah Persekutuan kerana pemasyhuran Tuanku Muhammad Faris pada 13 September lalu tidak mengikut perlembagaan.
“Pemasyhuran Pemangku Sultan (Tuanku Muhammad Faris) prejudis terhadap anak guam saya kerana terdapat dua isu perundangan di sebalik pelantikan tersebut,” kata Param pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.
Hadir sama pada sidang akhbar tersebut adalah kekanda Sultan Ismail, Tengku Merjan Yahya Petra serta barisan peguam penasihat baginda yang terdiri daripada Datuk Hazeeq Pillay, Abdul Halim Bahari dan Abdul Rashid Ismail.
“Tuanku Ismail fail petisyen lantikan Sultan Kelantan tidak sah”
(Berita Harian, 21 September 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR: Tuanku Ismail Petra memfailkan petisyen di Mahkamah Persekutuan semalam, bagi mendapatkan pengisytiharan pelantikan anakandanya Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai Sultan sebagai tidak sah dan bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan.
Peguam mewakili Tuanku Ismail Petra, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy, berkata pihaknya memohon mahkamah untuk campur tangan dan mengisytiharkan Tuanku Ismail Petra masih menjadi Sultan Kelantan yang sah.
Katanya, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra ketika menjadi Pemangku Raja tidak mempunyai kuasa meminda perlembagaan negeri atau berkuasa melantik anggota Majlis Perajaan Negeri Kelantan.
“Dalam petisyen ini, Tuanku Ismail Petra tidak menerima dan mengiktiraf Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru,” katanya pada siding media di sini, semalam.
Media sebelum ini melaporkan kemelut Istana Kelantan berakhir apabila Pemangku Raja, Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra, 41, dimasyhurkan sebagai Sultan Kelantan Ke-29 pada 13 September lalu, menggantikan ayahanda baginda, Tuanku Ismail Petra, yang gering sejak lebih setahun lalu.
Penasihat Undang-Undang Istana Kelantan, Datuk Shukri Mohamad sebelum ini menegaskan pemasyhuran Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru tidak boleh dicabar di mana-mana mahkamah kerana dibuat berdasarkan perlembagaan negeri.
Tuanku Ismail Petra sebelum ini sudah memfailkan dua petisyen di mahkamah sama masing-masing pada 5 Mei dan 22 Jun lalu bagi mencabar Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra ketika menjadi Pemangku Raja sebagai Sultan Kelantan yang baru.
Sementara itu, Param berkata, Mahkamah Persekutuan menetapkan 25 Oktober depan untuk mendengar hujahan daripada peguam kedua-dua pihak bagi memutuskan sama ada mahkamah mempunyai bidang kuasa untuk mengendalikan kes berkenaan.
“Kita berharap panel penuh hakim di Mahkamah Persekutuan akan membincangkan isu berkenaan yang mungkin memberi impak kepada negeri lain yang mempunyai Sultan. Seluruh isu ini juga akan menjadi ujian kepada system kehakiman,” katanya.
“Bekas Sultan Kelantan mohon isytihar pemasyhuran tidak ikut perlembagaan”
(Sinar Harian, 21 September 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR -- Bekas Sultan Kelantan, Tuanku Ismail Petra Ibni Sultan Yahya Petra hari Isnin memfailkan satu petisyen di pejabat pendaftar Mahkamah Persekutuan di Putrajaya bagi mendapatkan pengisytiharan mahkamah berkenaan bahawa pemasyhuran anakanda sulung baginda, Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra sebagai sultan baru, tidak mengikut perlembagaan.
Tuanku Muhammad Faris telah dimasyhurkan sebagai Sultan Kelantan pada 13 Sept lepas oleh Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat di Istana Balai Besar, Kota Baharu.
Peguam utama Tuanku Ismail, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy memaklumkan sidang akhbar di sini bahawa Tuanku Ismail Petra sendiri telah mengikrarkan dua afidavit sokongan untuk petisyen ketiga itu, yang difailkan secara khusus bagi mendapatkan perintah Mahkamah Persekutuan sama ada Tengku Muhammad Faris, sebagai Pemangku Raja Kelantan, mempunyai kuasa eksklusif untuk meminda perlembagaan negeri tersebut berhubung peruntukan di bawah Perkara 3(2).
Beliau berkata terdapat dua isu perundangan yang berbangkit akibat pindaan berkenaan sehingga membawa kepada pelantikan Tuanku Muhammad Faris sebagai sultan baru.
"Adalah terlalu awal untuk Pemangku Raja memberikan kuasa kepada dirinya sendiri seperti yang diperuntukkan kepada baginda Sultan. Sebagai contoh, Perkara 23A, dengan menimbangkan lingkungan dan skop kuasa baginda sebagai Pemangku Raja ketika ketidakupayaan Sultan, dan ini merupakan persoalan yang perlu diputuskan oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan.
"Kedua, adalah sesuatu yang tidak menyenangkan apabila Majlis Perajaan, yang kewujudannya sendiri dipertikaikan, boleh memilih dan melantik Pemangku Raja sebagai Sultan," katanya.
Ini merupakan petisyen ketiga Tuanku Ismail Petra yang memfailkan petisyen pertama pada 5 Mei lepas, bagi memohon Mahkamah Persekutuan memutuskan dua isu iaitu:
a) sama ada Pemangku Raja di negeri tersebut, semasa ketidakupayaan Sultan, berhak mengambil alih kuasa penuh Sultan dan bertindak seolah-olah Sultan bukan lagi raja pemerintah di negeri berkenaan;
b) sama ada Pemangku Raja, semasa ketidakupayaan Sultan, mempunyai kuasa atau autoriti:
i) untuk menyingkirkan mana-mana anggota Majlis Perajaan yang dilantik Sultan.
ii) untuk melantik orang lain menggantikan anggota yang disingkir dalam Majlis Perajaan tersebut.
Dalam petisyen kedua yang difailkan pada 22 Jun lepas, Tuanku Ismail Petra meminta Mahkamah Persekutuan memutuskan persoalan berhubung kebebasan asas seorang sultan.
Ditanya mengenai pemasyhuran Tuanku Muhammad Faris sebagai Sultan baru, Param mendakwa apa jua pengumuman minggu lepas adalah "tidak berperlembagaan" dengan Tuanku Ismail Petra sendiri telah mengeluarkan arahan kepada seorang daripada peguam utamanya, Raja Aziz Addruse, untuk mengendalikan hal tersebut.
"Tuanku Ismail Petra cukup tahu dan sedar tentang apa yang berlaku di sekeliling baginda," kata Param.
Pemasyhuran Tuanku Muhammad Faris sebagai Sultan baru, diikuti oleh kenyataan dari Majlis Perajaan Kelantan bahawa kenaikan takhta Faris Petra sebagai Sultan baru daripada ayahanda baginda yang gering, Tuanku Ismail Petra, tidak boleh dicabar di mahkamah undang-undang oleh kerana keputusan itu dibuat oleh majlis berkenaan berdasarkan pindaan Perlembagaan Negeri.
Param memberitahu pemberita bahawa Mahkamah Persekutuan telah menetapkan 23 Okt untuk mendengar sama ada mahkamah mempunyai bidang kuasa atas dua petisyen berkenaan. --Bernama
“Nazri: Council has final say on Kelantan sultan”
(Malaysiakini, 13 September 2010)
Hazlan Zakaria
Sep 13, 10
6:27pm
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz said the federal government considers as valid the appointment of Regent Tengku Mohamad Faris Petra as Kelantan's new ruler.
“It falls under the jurisdiction of the council of succession,” said the de facto law minister today, “And the federal government accepts whatever the decision that the council comes up with.”
Nazri cited the case of Negeri Sembilan two years ago, where the government did not interfere when the state's council of succession, comprising the four undang (noble chiefs), chose someone other than the sultan's direct male heir as the successor.
Asked if the courts could intervene even if the federal government could not, Nazri emphatically said they could not.
Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari also rubbished the attempts as mere procedural posturing by the lawyers.
“While the Federal Court is the right forum to determine constitutional issues, the law as it stands now is that it is the Majlis Perajaan (council of succession) that has the final say.
“The Federal Court will not interfere with the decision pertaining to disputes pertaining to the right of succession,” stressed Abdul Aziz (left), a UIA law professor.
Abdul Aziz cited as precedence the court's reluctance to intervene in the Negeri Sembilan case mentioned by Nazri, as well as the case of Terengganu's Sultan Ali who was deposed from office by the British Military Administration for alleged collusion with the Japanese in 1946.
“Under the constitutional scheme it is the council who makes or breaks the ruler. Not the court. The court has no power over the council.
“More so, Article 71 of the Federal Constitution expressly states that the federation will undertake to protect the state's rights of succession,” he added.
He explained that the courts recognise the constitutional right of the council as the sole authority to appoint a successor or declare a sultan unfit.
“That is the inherent power of the council, article 23A of the Kelantan state constitution simply makes it clearer,” Abdul Aziz opined.
