THE Regent of Johor, His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has suggested that Johor-based political parties unite in a Sarawak-style coalition known as the “Gabungan Bangsa Johor” to protect the state’s interests.
Stressing that this was his personal view, he said it is not like the state is rioting, opposing the government or trying to overthrow any parties, and noted that he merely wanted Johor to have its rights.
Speaking during a podcast during the Johor youth meet-up programme held at EduCity Indoor Arena in Johor Bahru on Sunday (June 9), he further noted how Sarawak ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak comprises several state-based parties and how the state had used that to its advantage to negotiate more effectively with federal authorities.
“In Sarawak, you see Sarawak parties in power. (But) in Johor, you have PKR, DAP, Umno, PAS. Why don’t you (politicians) join forces to form Gabungan Bangsa Johor?” Tunku Ismail, more popularly known as TMJ, was reported as saying by FMT.
“When you join forces and are united, the federal government cannot be deaf to (your demands) any more. You’ll be the kingmaker.
“It’s not like we are rioting, opposing the government or trying to overthrow any parties. It’s just that I want Johor to have its rights. Until when will Johor be beggars?”
Tunku Ismail further called for changes in the federal system, saying “Johor… It does not belong to Malaysia. We are partners. So, you have to start treating us as partners”.
He also expressed hope that in the future, at least 20-30% of the state’s revenue will go back to Johor, pointing out that currently, all the state’s tax revenue currently went to the federal government.
“That’s RM48-49 bil a year, and they give us back RM1.4 bil. How are we to take care of Johoreans with RM1.4 bil a year?” he asked.
GPS, the ruling coalition in Sarawak, was formed following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018 and is currently the country’s fourth largest political coalition with 23 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
The coalition has 79 seats in the 82-seat state legislative assembly and comprises four Sarawak-based parties namely Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Parti Demokratic Progresif, Sarawak United People’s Party and Parti Rakyat Sarawak. – June 10, 2024
Main pic credit: Bernama
