KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 ― Authorities’ silence over  Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia’s comments against the Johor Sultan over a proposed state housing bill exposed the double standards enjoyed by the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR de facto leader questioned the inaction by the Attorney-General over the daily’s recent editorial piece on the powers of the state ruler with regards to the Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014,and contrasted it to the pursuit of opposition members on the same issue.

“Umno has attacked the royal institution. Umno and Utusan can do so, but if its in our (Pakatan Rakyat's) case action will immediately be taken against us,” he told reporters here.

Anwar pointed out that harsh legal action had been against the late Karpal Singh over his remarks on the Perak constitutional crisis, even though what the latter had said back in 2009 was purely on a legal matter.

“Umno did not adhere to a mature, civil and respectful discussion. Where is the Attorney-General, where is the Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) in this?” the Permatang Pauh MP asked.

The Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014 was passed into law by the state legislative assembly, after 10 amendments were made.

The revised housing bill includes a provision for the Sultan is to act on the advice of the mentri besar, The Star reported Johor's Local Government and Housing executive councillor Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi saying in his speech in the assembly.

Other clauses that had initially mentioned the Johor Ruler have been amended to read “state authorities”.

The Johor government had been heavily criticised on the housing bill before state Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced amendments to the proposed law yesterday, specifically the parts that mentioned the role of the state Ruler.

The amendments were to ensure the new state law would be in line with federal laws governing constitutional monarchy in Malaysia.