PH secretariat chief Saifuddin Abdullah said it was tradition for all former prime ministers to attend the event.

“Usually, all former prime ministers will be invited.

“We understand that Mahathir was invited and he had expressed his intention to attend,” he said at a press conference at DAP headquarters here.

Yesterday, the Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal retracted an invitation for Mahathir and his wife to the oath-taking ceremony of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong next week.

Images of the letters, signed by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, addressed to Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, are currently being shared on social media.

Saifuddin, on behalf of the opposition coalition, said he hoped Syed Danial would reconsider the withdrawal of the invitation.

“Even though we know we do not have a role to play in the matter, we hope the Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal will reconsider the retraction of the invitation.

“This is because every former prime minister and opposition leader was invited. So it seems inappropriate that a former prime minister (Mahathir) is not.”

The former Umno deputy minister also said the three parties – DAP, PKR and Amanah – in Pakatan Harapan had already pledged their support to uphold the royal institution in the country.

“In an agreement signed in January last year, we agreed to uphold the royal institution. That’s why this (retraction of invitation) should not have happened.”

The Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V will take his oath as Malaysia’s 15th Agong on Dec 13.

He takes over from current king, Sultan of Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who will complete his five-year reign on Dec 12.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin announced that a meeting will be held between Pakatan Harapan component parties and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) on Dec 13.

The meeting will discuss the framework of cooperation between the four parties to ensure straight one-to-one fights against BN in the 14th general election.