Without broaching the issue directly, Dr Mahathir Mohamad appears to have expressed his opposition to a new enactment in Johor that may blur the lines between the executive and monarchy.
The former premier also warned that any drastic changes could exacerbate the people's ill-feelings towards the royals.
"There is already a feeling of disrespect for the royals. This may lead to other forms of disrespect," he said in his blog.
"Although by and large the Malays are for the institution of the monarch, when their ability to defend is eroded, they might forego their adat (custom)."
Mahathir said the Federal Constitution provides for a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.
"Of late there has been a tendency to ignore the constitution and to effectively change it by other means," he added.
Mahathir explained that the constitution can be changed but there are procedures for doing this.
"Nobody can change it on his own. States cannot change it nor can rulers without the approval of the federal parliament and the federal government," he noted.
Involvement of foreigners
The former premier warned if the constitution is ignored by anyone, others would follow suit.
"The constitution is the basic law of the country. When a precedent is established, it will become a base for other changes," he added.
Mahathir also claimed that certain quarters are making use of the royalty to serve their own national policies and objectives.
"These people must stop especially when they are foreigners," he said.
Although the former premier did not mention who these foreigners are, it is speculated that he could be referring to certain powerful forces in Singapore, which neighbours Johor to the south.
Promising to write more on this, Mahathir said: "As the Johor state council is about to change certain rules, I deem it necessary that these attempts to effectively change the constitution be realised by the citizens of this country."
His comments come in the wake of a front page report in the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia today, which appeared to suggest that even BN is dissatisfied over the Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014.
Two days ago Malaysiakini reported that the bill, if passed, will see the creation of the Johor Housing and Real Property Board and grant the sultan executive power over it, including appointing board members, determining their allowances, scrutinising the board's accounts as well as being empowered to dissolve the board.
The former premier also warned that any drastic changes could exacerbate the people's ill-feelings towards the royals.
"There is already a feeling of disrespect for the royals. This may lead to other forms of disrespect," he said in his blog."Although by and large the Malays are for the institution of the monarch, when their ability to defend is eroded, they might forego their adat (custom)."
Mahathir said the Federal Constitution provides for a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.
"Of late there has been a tendency to ignore the constitution and to effectively change it by other means," he added.
Mahathir explained that the constitution can be changed but there are procedures for doing this.
"Nobody can change it on his own. States cannot change it nor can rulers without the approval of the federal parliament and the federal government," he noted.
Involvement of foreigners
The former premier warned if the constitution is ignored by anyone, others would follow suit.
"The constitution is the basic law of the country. When a precedent is established, it will become a base for other changes," he added.
Mahathir also claimed that certain quarters are making use of the royalty to serve their own national policies and objectives.
"These people must stop especially when they are foreigners," he said.
Although the former premier did not mention who these foreigners are, it is speculated that he could be referring to certain powerful forces in Singapore, which neighbours Johor to the south.
Promising to write more on this, Mahathir said: "As the Johor state council is about to change certain rules, I deem it necessary that these attempts to effectively change the constitution be realised by the citizens of this country."
His comments come in the wake of a front page report in the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia today, which appeared to suggest that even BN is dissatisfied over the Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014.
Two days ago Malaysiakini reported that the bill, if passed, will see the creation of the Johor Housing and Real Property Board and grant the sultan executive power over it, including appointing board members, determining their allowances, scrutinising the board's accounts as well as being empowered to dissolve the board.
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