Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim today became the most senior Umno leader to express his disagreement with the Johor Housing and Real Property Bill 2014, which had initially sought to give powers to the Johor sultan to appoint board members, among others.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Shahidan said the federal government would not tolerate anything that contravenes the Federal Constitution.

"If (the sultan) interferes, I'm sure all problems will become worse, and the institution will be polluted," he said.

He also said if the state rulers involved themselves in the state administration, it would only taint the royalty's own institution.

'I was merely advising the state government'

"This is a constitutional monarchy, not an absolute monarchy," he said.

However, at a press conference later today, Shahidan said that he was merely advising the state government "not to get the sultan involved".

He also said the Attorney-General's Chambers would look into the possibility of whether the bill was in accordance with the constitution.

The bill has been tabled in the Johor state assembly at the time of writing, with some amendments vesting the power of appointments to the housing board with the state authorities.

However, the sultan still has the power to act on the matter, albeit with advice from Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin.

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