KUALA LUMPUR – Johor should have an alliance of ruling political parties, similar to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, to ensure that the federal government pays attention to the state’s needs, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has suggested.
The regent said by doing so, Putrajaya can no longer turn a deaf ear to Johor’s needs, which he said the federal government tended to do outside of election season.
“Sarawak today gets various bargains from the federal government. Why? Because in Sarawak, the one in power is its own (coalition). In Johor, we (the state government) have PKR, DAP, Umno, and PAS.
“Why don’t we just form a Johor coalition?
“When you unite your voice, the federal government cannot turn a deaf ear (to you), as you are the kingmaker,” he said during a podcast session for the Johor Youth Meetup programme, produced by Media Digital Johor on Sunday.
He added that all decision-making processes in the state should be done by locals, instead of the federal government, as only Johorians understand their needs and sentiments.
However, he then clarified that his suggestion was not meant to be disruptive or to start a fight with the federal government, or to bring down any political party.
“It is just that we (Johorians) want our rights, and we want our needs (to be met). (For how long) will Johor be a beggar?
“If there is a Johor-based coalition, the political scenario and development of the state is decided by (Johorians), and no one else,” he said.
He also pointed out that the United States’ capital, Washington DC, does not run every other state in the nation, but each has a degree of autonomy. – June 11, 2024