A directive regarding official portraits allowed to be displayed in federal and state government offices in Kelantan originated from the state palace, according to Sinchew Daily.

The directive allows only four official portraits to be displayed at government offices, and apparently precludes portraits of national leaders, such as the Yang di-pertuan Agong and the prime minister.

The four are official portraits of Kelantan's Sultan Muhammad V, Crown Prince Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra, former ruler Sultan Ismail Petra, and Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob.

"Only these pictures can be displayed at all state and federal government offices in Kelantan, whereas the display of any other picture is absolutely forbidden," read the directive.

It was issued through a letter from the state secretariat dated April 1, which has been making the rounds on social media. 

It was signed by the Kelantan deputy state secretary Adnan Hussin on behalf of state secretary Nazran Muhammad.

Responding to queries, Ahmad’s press secretary Ahmad Ubaidillah Alias confirmed the existence of the directive to Sinchew Daily.

"The letter is real, but the directive had come from the palace," he said.

"The state government can’t simply comment on the palace's directive, or risk interfering with the palace's affairs."

Malaysiakini has been attempting to reach Nazran regarding the letter since yesterday, but has yet to receive a response.

A source in the state secretariat had vouched for the letter’s veracity, but declined to elaborate.