Royal affairs have impact on the public too

In what has become known as the Kelantan palace crisis, more questions than answers emerge by the day. What is actually happening? If indeed the Sultan is not under house arrest as some say, he must also be seen to be not under house arrest.

The Star

THERE is no escaping the import of the news: the Sultan of Kelantan being kept at a hospital’s Royal Ward, neither returning to his palace nor leaving for treatment elsewhere as planned.

Add to this some other unprecedented incidents: allegedly rough treatment of a member of the royal family by the police, with friends, relatives and even the lawyer representing the Sultan being denied any contact with him.

Next, the lawyer appointed by the Sultan files a writ of habeas corpus to free him.

In what has become known as the Kelantan palace crisis, more questions than answers emerge by the day. What is actually happening?

There is no denying that the Sultan is not in the best of health. However, that is not in itself reason for the extraordinary intrigue.

There are certain basic principles that apply here.

First, the growing mystery is fomenting rumour and speculation that range from the crude to the scandalous.

This is not helping any party, but is instead potentially injurious to all.

Second, the Sultan is a public personage of considerable standing, therefore such matters relating to him are of legitimate public interest.

Thus they deserve to be reported fully, fairly and accurately, since evasion and diversion only frustrate and undermine the welfare of the Sultan and the public.

Third, a sultan and members of his family possess a status that commands due respect from others.

Any breach of established protocol need to be explained and rectified, and shown to be done.

And fourth, precisely because the sultan in question needs medical attention, and had planned to obtain it abroad, what can be the purpose of diverting his trip?

Evidently, his intended medical treatment is not what he is receiving in Kubang Kerian.

The condition of his health must be of sufficient urgency to not delay such treatment, without over-interpreting his infirmity to suggest any incapacity.

If indeed the Sultan is not under house arrest as some say, he must also be seen to be not under house arrest.

The sooner this matter is cleared up satisfactorily, the better. Prolonged intrigue will impact negatively not only on Kelantan, but on the country as a whole.