Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has warned that the state has every right to secede from the country if any of the terms in the agreement between Johor and the Federation of Malaya are breached.
In an interview with sports website FourthOfficial.com, the crown prince said that his views might be seen as instigating state-based sentiments, but his main concern was the people of Johor.
"I am going to be the future Sultan of this state and my main responsibility is towards the people of Johor. Malaysia is important to me, but Johor and JDT will always come first," he was quoted as saying.
"People deserve to know, that the mess we have in the country right now, should in no way be associated to the Johor royal family. Over the years, we’ve always been strong and independent as well as resourceful. In fact, we only joined the Federation of Malaya, upon both parties agreeing to several basic terms.
"And if any of those terms are breached, we have every right to secede from this country. You can accuse me of instigating state-based sentiments, but to me, I’m merely doing my duty to the people of Johor, and reminding them of the history and heritage behind this great land."
In June, Tunku Ismail's younger brother Tunku Idris Sultan Ibrahim created a stir after he posted a warning that Johor may secede from Malaysia, on his Instagram account.
In the posting which has since been deleted, the prince said the state joined the Federation in 1946 on a few conditions, including making Islam the religion of the state, Johor's absolute right over its water and land, and the state royalty would be allowed to have its own armed forces.
Tunku Ismail is no stranger to bluntness, having been critical of Putrajaya, along with his father the Johor sultan who recently urged the government to solve the country's economic woes and the declining value of the ringgit.
Several months ago, Tunku Ismail got into a spat with Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz over his criticism of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's non-appearance at the Nothing2Hide forum.
He had also admonished Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi for saying relations between the prime minister and the Johor palace were good. Tunku Ismail said Puad should not make statements without knowing what took place.
In the interview with FourthOfficial.com, where Tunku Ismail had mostly talked about football, the Johor team Southern Tigers and his plans for the sport, the crown prince listed his father and former Cuban president Fidel Castro as his idols.
"He may be a communist, but I respect the fact that he stood for the principles he believed in," the crown prince said, referring to Castro. – October 16, 2015.
Source: The Malaysia Insider
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