The Kelantan palace has revoked the Darjah Kerabat Al-Yunusi (DK) title awarded to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Sources from Mahathir's office confirmed the former prime minister received the letter at his residence on Feb 6 and is in the process of returning the award to Kelantan.

The award, which is limited to 25 recipients at any one time and is usually reserved for royalty, was gifted to Mahathir in 2002 by then Sultan Ismail Petra, who is the father of current ruler Sultan Muhammad V, who is also the present Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

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The revocation also comes following the stripping of the Datuk titles awarded to Amanah lawmaker Husam Musa and former Kota Baru MP Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah by the Kelantan palace earlier this week.

According to a 2012 report in Utusan Malaysia, Sultan Ismail had said the award was given to Mahathir to recognise and appreciate the latter's immense contribution to the country.

In December last year, Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali voluntarily returned two of their respective awards to the Selangor palace, following a tiff over the "Bugis pirate" jibe.