Stop meddling or we’ll whack you, Nazri warns prince

Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has been told not to meddle in politics or risk being castigated.

“I think he should keep out of politics, otherwise he may be subjected to the same rule. We will whack him,” warned Culture and Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz.

“Rulers and royal families are above the law (and therefore should not interfere in politics). If he (the crown prince) wants to be a politician, then say so. Then we can answer back.

“If you hold an important post as royalty in the state, and if you start to say things, if then we (the government) hit you back, don’t get angry,” he told a press conference at University Malaya today.

Nazri was responding to Tunku Ismail’s Facebook post which ridiculed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for not turning up at the ‘Nothing to Hide’ dialogue on June 6.

‘You will lose respect’

Furthermore, the minister cautioned Tunku Ismail that he would lose respect if he continues to comment on politics.

“If you start to meddle in politics, then we will question you, then there will be no more respect for the royalty.

“I hope you keep out of politics. We are the ones who are protecting the royalty,” he added.

In his Facebook post, the prince said Najib’s absence at the dialogue was expected.

“How can you have a dialogue called ‘Nothing2Hide’ featuring a person who has everything to hide?

“Obviously he won’t show up,” read the bi-lingual post, which also stressed on the importance of leaders having the trust of the people.

Though security concerns were cited for Najib’s no-show, his detractors claimed that he skipped the dialogue due to fear of a public confrontation with Dr Mahathir Mohamad.