Johor ruler repeats warning to power-crazy politicians, threatens dissolution

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today said he would not hesitate to dissolve the state assembly if representatives engage in power struggles and threaten the state government.

“I will not entertain any political games by assemblymen and risk destabilising my state and government,” he said at the opening of the Johor state assembly in Iskandar Puteri today.

“If that occurs, then I will not hesitate to dissolve the state assembly.”

The sitting today was the first to be held since Parliament and state assembly sittings were suspended under the declaration of emergency in January.

The last session of the Johor state assembly sitting before this was held from Nov 26 to Dec 6 last year.

Speaking today, Sultan Ibrahim urged assemblymen to use the session to discuss and plan a clear course of action to help the people and rebuild the state’s economy.

“We don’t need politicians to represent the people if all they think about is themselves and not the interests and welfare of the rakyat,” he said, adding that there was no need to bring up “unnecessary motions”.

“Don’t be selfish,” he said. “The rakyat are suffering, going hungry, losing their jobs and some are even fighting for their lives because of Covid-19.

“This is not the time to fight (for political power). Rather, this is the time to unite and work together. Don’t look around to see what other politicians are up to, look at yourselves in the mirror instead.”

On Tuesday, Sultan Ibrahim had expressed regret that some political leaders were disrupting the government as they jostled for power.

In a statement, he said their acts were uncalled for at a time when the people are struggling to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Now is the time to scramble to help the people, not scramble for power and positions,” he had said.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and his Umno counterpart Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, alongside former leader Najib Razak, have been at the forefront of a campaign to topple Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin since last year.

Their efforts gathered momentum recently with a call by Zahid on Cabinet ministers from his party to quit the government. Both Zahid and Najib say they have mustered the support of about 15 MPs from Umno.