Officials in Johor have made contradictory statements about an age limit for members and officials of youth associations, which was reduced from 40 to 30 in a proposed new federal law.

“If we find that this (Johor flip-flop) was because of the palace interfering, we will cancel that decision,” Mahathir said today.

Mahathir said he had yet to receive an explanation from Johor Menteri Besar Sahruddin Jamal.

Asked if there was any truth to rumours that the U-turn by the Johor state government was due to instructions by the palace, Mahathir said this was the talk of the town.

The Johor government had said it would maintain the age limit at 40, only to announce a day later that it would follow the proposed new maximum age of 30.

However, the following night, executive councillor Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, who is in charge of youth matters, said the state government would revert to the old limit of 40 following “advice from several quarters”, leading to speculation that it came after a meeting with Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

The new age-limit of 30 is set under the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Bill which was approved by the Dewan Rakyat two weeks ago. The bill now goes to the Dewan Negara for approval and must receive royal assent before it becomes law.