He told online news portal The Mole that the rulers' attempt to interfere in state administration and business was a violation of the Federal Constitution and must be stopped.
“We have provided laws and designated our rulers as Constitutional Monarchs. But along the way, they (rulers) do something which is not within their realms. They go and do something and we say nothing," Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.
"They go on to do more and more until they become businessmen. They make bids for projects... of course they are highly respected and people don't turn them down easily.”
He said other people found it difficult to do business as they were unable to compete against the rulers.
"So it becomes necessary to point out this thing. It's very unpleasant because I respect the rulers.
"They are our rulers, but unless you put a stop to this practice, there'll be other people who'll want to make use of the rulers for their own purpose.”
Dr Mahathir was responding to the controversial Johor Housing and Property Bill, which had originally given the Sultan of Johor executive powers in the state administration.
But after public backlash, the Umno-led Johor government amended the bill to restrict the sultan's powers, just one day before it was tabled and passed on June 9.
Dr Mahathir had written two blog posts which raised the issue of the Malay rulers being used by certain quarters to subvert national policies and objectives.
He told The Mole the people were aware that it was unfair for rulers to be involved in business, although they may not express their anger.
He said people have already began to question why the IPP (Independent Power Producer) project was given without tender.
"Why was there a negotiated tender? They don't say directly at the rulers, but they ask this question."
Dr Mahathir was referring to the role of a private firm linked to the Johor Sultan, SIPP Energy Sdn Bhd, in the controversial RM3 billion Track4A power plant.
The Energy Commission awarded SIPP Energy, along with Tan Sri Francis Yeoh's YTL Power International Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the project through direct negotiations.
YTL has since backed out, after facing public criticism for alleged "crony capitalism", while TNB said it has not confirmed it was a part of the consortium.
“I think if we give them (the public) a bad impression, they will lose respect. So we want to preserve the respect for the rulers," said Dr Mahathir.
"You see, because we didn't put a stop earlier, now it has gone into making it legal, making it something that is permitted legally by the government. That is stepping too far already... we have to stop that.”
Dr Mahathir said the amendments made to the Federal Constitution during his time as prime minister was done to preserve the position of the rulers in the country.
“I don't want anything that results in ignoring the Constitution to go on because once you ignore the Constitution, someday people will ignore provisions (for the existence) of the Malay Rulers.” - TheMalaysianInsider
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