No law to stop self-proclaimed Malacca sultan: Police

MALACCA: There are no provisions in the law for the authorities to act against a man who proclaimed to be a Malacca Sultan last week.
Malacca police chief Datuk Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah said today that after examining the police report lodged by the Chief Minister's office here today urging the authorities to investigate the man over his claims, he said the man's proclamation was neither legitimate nor against the law.
"Those who know the law of our country will surely not fall for such claims as it is laughable. The claim was made by the man's family members among themselves and it was not a public proclamation. However, if we find that these individuals are defrauding people with such proclamation, such as giving out honorific titles, then they will be breaking the law and we will act. As for now, we will examine the case and call up all those involved to have their statements recorded." he told theSun.
Raja Shahrom added upon completion of the findings, police will submit the papers to the Attorney-General Chambers and seek its advice for further action.
Malacca state deputy secretary Datuk Maslina Baki lodged the report at the Ayer Keroh police station here at 4pm today raising concerns that the claims of being a descendent of a past Malacca Sultanate made by a 63-year-old man might escalate to more serious issues.
An English daily reported on Monday that Chief Minister Adly Zahari had said that the state would lodge report against Tengku Muhamad Jalil Md Nor who according to a posting in Facebook claimed he "ascended the throne on Oct 23 at Kuala Linggi carrying the title Sultan Mansor Shah III".
It was not the first time individuals have gone public proclaiming they are heirs to the Malacca sultanate which ceased to exist five centuries ago after the state was conquered by the Portugese empire.