Opposition, sultan at odd

Opposition, sultan at odd

KOTA BARU, Malaysia (Reuters): Malaysia's opposition Kelantan state government said on Saturday it plans a special sitting of its legislature to strip powers from its royal ruler.

The ruling Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) and Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra have been wrestling behind the scenes for influence over this largely rural, northern Muslim state bordering Thailand since PAS took control in 1990.

PAS State Executive Councillor Takiyuddin Hassan, a lawyer and chief of the influential state PAS youth wing, said the palace had overstepped its authority for years.

"The Palace is trying to control everything. We just want to put things back on the right track," he told Reuters.

Takiyuddin said he hoped the special sitting would take place before the next regular session of the legislature in June.