PETALING JAYA: Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar says Johor’s rapid development is due to his good relationship with Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“In the past, the state government had no money to pay salaries, but today the state has billions in reserves.
“This success is possible because of my good relationship with the current MB, who is unlike the two previous MBs, who were arrogant and only listened to the federal government,” he said at the opening of a gallery in honour of the heroes of Bukit Kepong during the Emergency, in Muar, Johor.
Khaled’s two predecessors were Abdul Ghani Othman (1995-2013) and Muhyiddin Yassin (1986-1995).
Muhyiddin now leads the opposition party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Elaborating on the relationship between the state and federal governments, Sultan Ibrahim advised federal leaders against forgetting the rights and roles of the state.
He said policies developed by “power hungry leaders of the past” – such as that which requires the state government to fulfil numerous requirements to get financial assistance – must be reviewed.
Sultan Ibrahim also slammed the “unintelligent federal minister” who wants to turn parts of states into federal territories.
“Narrow-minded leaders like this create rifts between the federal and state governments and incite hatred towards the government.”
It is believed Sultan Ibrahim was referring to Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor, who recently proposed for Penang, Langkawi, parts of Malacca and Pulau Tioman to be turned into federal territories.
The proposal was condemned by various parties, including Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who said the idea didn’t make sense and was seditious.