KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — The Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim warned national leaders today against using their influence to “manipulate” people to achieve their self-serving agenda.
The 31-year-old crown prince’s advice was prompted by his recollection of what he termed the “1992 constitutional crisis” during the Mahathir administration that resulted in Parliament curbing the powers of state monarchs.
“Do not manipulate the people for the sake of self-interest because you are elected to serve the people.
“I pray that we can focus on making this nation of ours a better place in the future, for the sake of the people,” he wrote on the Facebook page of the Johor Southern Tigers, the state football team over which he presides.
Tunku Ismail did not name anyone in his posting, but made an indirect allusion to events that took in 1992 when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was at the height of his power as prime minister and pushed through a resolution to limit the power of rulers in a special parliamentary sitting that same year.
“I will never forget the 1992 constitutional crisis. I still remember how my family was treated by the federal government officers,” he said, and shared his memory of attempts to disband Johor Military Force as well as directives to the state government authorities against carrying out repairs and maintenance at any of the royal palaces and to disregard protocol for the his late grandfather who was then the reigning state ruler.
The prince who was just a primary schooler then said his mother was even stopped by Malaysian officials upon her return home from Singapore.
“She was told to step out of the car because they wanted to inspect everything in the car. I still remember everything and I still remember the individuals responsible for it,” Tunku Ismail wrote.
However, he said the state royal house is now on good terms with the federal government, but cautioned Putrajaya against attempting to use the Johor royalty for political purposes.
“Today the relationship between the government and the Johor Royal family is good. I appreciate that. I hope it’s not just because you need us now. It’s good that you realise that we need each other. But I think at this time the focus should be to correct the mistakes and progress as a nation.
“I hope such dark history you created for your thirst of greed and power will not happen again,” he wrote.
Tunku Ismail also called on Johoreans to be united, reminding them of their collective responsibility to protect the state, and pledged to protect and uphold the rights of his people.
