The purported romance gathered steam after Nurul Izzah and her family received a royal invitation from the Agong to visit him in Kelantan last week, and flew there on a private jet. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has rejected rumours that she is engaged to be married to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

She told Malay Mail that speculation about her purported romantic involvement with the Kelantan Ruler who pardoned her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was false.

“I have no idea. Fake news,” she replied in a text message when asked to comment on the matter.

Rumours of the purported romance began circulating online earlier this month.

They gathered steam after Nurul Izzah and her family received a royal invitation from the Agong to visit him in Kelantan last week, and were flown there by private jet.

Seemingly annoyed, she then urged the public not to indulge in gossip, saying focus should be given to more pressing issues like getting the economy back on track.

“We have more urgent matters to attend to, such as saving Malaysia’s economy,” she said.

Nurul Izzah is the eldest daughter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the previously jailed Pakatan Harapan de facto leader who was granted a full royal pardon by Sultan Muhammad V after the coalition took over federal power on May 9.

Last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar and Nurul Izzah had an audience with Sultan Muhammad V’s mother, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, at Istana Mahkota in Kubang Kerian.

The visit marked Dr Wan Azizah’s first trip to Kelantan after being sworn in as deputy prime minister. The closed-door meeting reportedly lasted for an hour.