KUALA LUMPUR: A deposed Malaysian state sultan lost a court battle on Friday with his eldest son who seized the throne in a palace coup that scandalized the country's royalty.
The verdict by Malaysia's highest court prevents Tuanku Ismail Petra Yahya Petra from regaining his throne of Kelantan state anytime soon. Nine of Malaysia's 13 states are ruled by royal families who have mainly ceremonial powers but command wide respect after centuries of hereditary rule.
Ismail's eldest son, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, took over the throne of the northern state in September while his father was bedridden with a reported stroke. Ismail filed several legal suits challenging a series of moves made by Faris that led to his ouster.
Ruling on one of the suits, a three-judge panel in the Federal Court said the ex-sultan has no right to refer key legal questions about the extent of his son's powers while he was medically incapacitated, said Ismail's lawyer, Rashid Zulkifli.
Nevertheless, Ismail is "aware of what is happening and still considers himself the sultan," Rashid said. He added that the court has not scheduled a hearing for one final petition that might still restore the 61-year-old Ismail to the throne.
Faris' lawyers could not immediately be contacted. Faris took the throne after pushing through with changes to the state constitution that enabled a "Council of Succession" to install him as ruler.
The feud has become an embarrassment for Malaysia's royalty, who closely guard their private lives.
They are particularly respected by Malaysia's ethnic Malay Muslim majority, who regard them as the traditional protectors of Malay and Islamic heritage. Executive power to rule lies with elected national and state representatives.