Mahathir puts Tunku Mahkota Johor in his place

(FMT) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad today defended one of his Cabinet members after the Johor crown prince accused Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar of interfering in the state’s affairs.

The prime minister was responding to comments by Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who said the issues surrounding the development of Pulau Kukup were not for the federal government to decide.

Mahathir denied that Putrajaya had intruded into Johor’s affairs.

“We have not touched on the Sultan,” he told reporters today.

“All we have touched is that Pulau Kukup should not be developed, (and) it should remain as a forest reserve, particularly as it is, a special mangrove forest.

“We don’t want the mangrove forest to be cut down for development. It may be sultanate land, but it cannot be developed,” he said.

Yesterday, Tunku Ismail called Xavier an “outsider”, saying his ministry had no jurisdiction “to override the Johor State Constitution”.

“The only one who can change the constitution is the Ruler. The letter Johor have issued is clear that Pulau Kukup will remain protected as a National Park,” he said.

He said Johor would deal with the issue in “our own ways”.

“This is Johor, where there is a Constitution that existed even before Malaysia was formed,” said TMJ.

Mahathir today said Putrajaya was responsible for the whole of Malaysia.

“Malaysians are not outsiders, the federal government are not outsiders,” said Mahathir.

“We are responsible for all the things that happen in the whole country.”

The Cabinet has earlier decided that Pulau Kukup would remain a national park.