In a Facebook post dated Sunday, March 17, the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, appealed to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to stop ‘sabotaging each other,’ trying ‘to build a flying car,’ and to prioritise the needs of the people.
Since the post went up, it has received 14,000 reactions and comments and it has been shared more than a thousand times.
He then stated what the priority of the government should be: solving the problems of people’s livelihoods amidst Malaysia’s economic situation.
He zeroed in on two main issues: reducing the cost of living and to improving their quality of life.
He wrote that improving the economic situation, and not merely talking about it, in particular, creating more opportunities for employment for his countrymen.
He expressed how concerned he is about Malaysia’s situation and said there is a need to unite as one country to address their problems.
To end his post he simply wrote, “We have to give priority to the people.”
Sudah hampir setahun. Disebalik meletakkan keutamaan dalam menunaikan janji-janji serta berusaha meningkatkan ekonomi…
Posted by HRH Crown Prince of Johor on Saturday, 16 March 2019
Though the Crown Prince did not specifically refer to any situation in his post, Johor has had to deal with the fallout from a serious chemical waste dumping that occurred on March 8. This resulted in around 2,700 people affected by the noxious fumes stemming from the illegal chemical dumping, with hundreds needing medical treatment, and several confined in hospitals’ intensive care units.
The Sultan of Johor pledged RM 1 million for the clean-up efforts for the crisis. He had been moved by the appeal for help from a father whose child had been affected by the noxious fumes. He said, “These are innocent schoolchildren, teachers, and health workers … don’t those responsible feel any remorse at the thought that children in the ICU are fighting for their lives?”
This is not the first time this year that the Crown Prince has been critical of the PH government under Prime Minister Dr Tun Mahathir Mohamad.
At the beginning of the year, he also appealed to the PH government to stop fighting amongst each other and to start actually governing in another Facebook post.
He wrote, “I really want the government to be successful. I wake up every day hoping to be wrong. But, they keep proving me right. I did the same with the old government. And I’m doing the same now. No difference. Just wanting the best for the people. Some may not like what I say but that’s the challenge. To keep speaking up for the rakyat (people)who can’t. Let me be public enemy No.1 if I have to be. I’m consistent and stand by my principles. Please… Please start Governing. Please stop fighting amongst each other, Please stop politicizing every issue. Sometimes I get it wrong. Everyone makes mistakes. For the mistakes that I’ve made, I’m sorry. I think we all should reflect on 2018 and be sorry for the wrongs.
Well, it’s 2019, let’s get it right now. Let’s politicise less. Let’s popularise less over social media. Let’s make better decisions. Let’s cooperate and accept each other’s space and duty. Let’s serve the people and deliver the best for our country.”
Dr Mahathir was none too pleased with the Crown Prince’s words and said that Tunku Ismail needs to understand better the differences between issues under the state and federal governments.
Dr. Mahathir emphasized his many years as a leader. “The crown prince probably does not understand the concept of a federation. Perhaps, he wasn’t born yet, but I was around at the time. We have a list of what falls under the power of the federation, and what falls under the state.”
Read related: Dr. M: Crown Prince of Johor does not understand the concept of a federation
https://theindependent.sg.sg/dr-m-crown-prince-of-johor-does-not-understand-the-concept-of-a-federation/