Johor crown prince: We will secede if govt breaches terms
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has threatened to secede from Malaysia if the government breaches any terms of its membership of the Federation of Malaya.
Speaking to Malaysian sports portal Fourth Official, Tunku Ismail emphasised his duty to the people of Johor and that he will not hesitate to break away from Malaysia if something is amiss.
He said: "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 one of those terms are breached, we have every right to secede from this country."
The crown prince, who is also chairman of Malaysian Super League side Johor Darul Ta'zim, also dismissed his critics who accuse him of using the club for political mileage.
"Johor isn't just about football. It’s beyond that. It’s a tool for uniting people and bridging the gap of racism and segregation within society," said Tunku Ismail.
"So, I’m perfectly fine if people think I’m using JDT as a political tool, as that’s precisely what I’m doing. I’ve got nothing to hide."
Tunku Ismail has been an outspoken critic of the Malaysian government in recent months.
In the wake of the 1MDB scandal, the crown prince has used JDT's official Facebook page to comment on Malaysian politics, including a 17-second speechless video which went viral in June.
Sources: Malay Mail Online, The Star Online
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