Apart from being strait-jacketed by a Constitution that clearly defines the sultans' political role, analysts say they are likely to revert to their largely customary role once the ruling Umno regains its footing following its dismal showing in the general election.

'While they (the sultans) do have a say over the appointments of the chief ministers, their powers are limited under the Constitution,' says lawyer and opposition MP R. Siva Rasa, who is also the vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

In recent days, the sultans of Perak, Perlis and Terengganu have disrupted the usually simple swearing-in ceremonies of state chief ministers by raising questions over the suitability of the candidates.

The swearing-in of the chief minister of Perak, which fell into opposition hands, was delayed for four days as the Regent of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah did not feel the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) candidate was suitable. Questions were also raised about whether Mr Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin enjoyed the support of the majority of the Perak state assemblymen, opposition leaders say.

The dispute was resolved after PKR and the Democratic Action Party told the Perak Regent that the PAS candidate would have their support.

The stakes are higher in Perlis and Terengganu because the two states are controlled by the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) and the sultans were rejecting candidates put forward by the embattled Premier Abdullah Badawi.

Last Friday, the head of the Perlis royal household swore in as chief minister the little-known Md Isa Sabu, who was not the BN candidate. The Raja of Perlis used his constitutional authority to ignore a request by Datuk Seri Abdullah to reappoint Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim as chief minister.

Umno officials say Datuk Seri Abdullah is adamant that the Perlis royal household should abide by BN's decision and has dispatched his deputy Najib Razak to resolve the impasse. Yesterday, the Premier also told Perlis assemblymen that he would resolve the issue with the Perlis Istana.

In Terengganu, the royal household has refused to reappoint former BN chief minister Idris Jusuh. Terengganu Umno sources say he has not enjoyed good relations with the royal household, which is insisting that BN offer alternative candidates.

Umno officials say the Premier has not decided how he would deal with the worsening rift between BN and the Terengganu royal household.

The Star daily reported yesterday that the swearing-in was expected today, but the palace has yet to confirm any name for the post.

A scheduled meeting between the state assemblymen and Regency Advisory Council was cancelled at the last minute, leaving the state government in an apparent limbo.

The flexing of muscles by the royal households reflects the increasing friction in the relationship between the government and the country's hereditary rulers.

Last September, the sultans used their collective clout through the Conference of Rulers to push the appointments of two senior judges to key positions in the judiciary, a move that won them widespread praise among lawyers and opposition politicians.

Malaysia's hereditary rulers have long held a special role in society. They symbolise the special status of the country's Malay majority and are charged with protecting their Islamic faith and the community's customs.

They also have limited political clout. The King, selected by and from among his brother sultans to reign for five years, enjoys some power in the country's Constitution over administrative appointments.

But PM Abdullah's predecessor Mahathir Mohamad strongly believed the rulers should return to their traditional roles - as rubber stamps for government decisions and symbolic figure heads of the community.

During his 22 years in power, Tun Dr Mahathir and Umno put in place laws that further diluted the rulers' political roles in administrative matters and stripped away their above-the-law status.

ljlopez@sph.com.sg