Nazri tells crown prince to stay out of politics

PETALING JAYA: The Crown Prince of Johor has been told to stay out of politics unless he wants to be subjected to the same rule and be “whacked”.

Referring to Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s remark against the Prime Minister for not attending a dialogue on national issues last week, Tourism and Culture Minister Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said:

“He should keep out of politics because otherwise, he will be subjected to the same rule and we will whack him.”

“If you want to be a politician, then say so. Then, we can hit you back for what you say.

“But if you hold an important post – as a royal in a state – and start saying things, if we hit you back, don’t get angry,” he told reporters after attending an event in Universiti Malaya yesterday.

The royals, added Nazri, should keep out of politics because “we are the ones protecting the royalty”.

Tunku Ismail, in a silent video posted on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page later, showed him making a beckoning gesture.

Most of the comments that followed voiced their support for him.

On June 5, Tunku Ismail had posted on that page, criticising the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s decision not to attend a dialogue session with non-governmental organisations at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Najib had earlier agreed to attend the dialogue but was advised not to by the police who called it off due to security concerns.

Nazri also said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had no right to ask Najib for a debate on the 1MDB as he is “just an ordinary citizen”.

“I don’t want my PM to lower himself because he is a PM while Dr Mahathir is just an ordinary citizen. So, why should my PM need to go to the level of an ordinary citizen?

“Tun M has no locus standi to have a debate with Najib. For me, certainly, it’s not a good idea,” he said, adding that there was already an existing platform for debate, known as the Parliament.

“If there’s a debate, it should be in the Parliament between the Opposition Leader and Najib.”

Asked about Najib’s irregular attendance in Parliament, Nazri said: “That’s because he has many other things to do as a Prime Minister. We don’t want to waste his time. Besides, his ministers are capable of answering questions on his behalf.”

Nazri added that Najib had not done anything wrong.

“There is no way an existing PM should step down unless he commits an offence, dies in office or is under investigation. Najib is not and therefore, it is a ridiculous demand.”