Claim That Johor Gov’t Is A ‘Palace Puppet’ Baseless - Reezal Merican

JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 (Bernama) -- The claim that the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, has turned the state government into a “palace puppet” has been described as being extremely exaggerated and unfounded.

UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the Tunku Mahkota Ismail’s firmness in speaking out on Johor’s development should not be misinterpreted, but rather seen as part of his responsibility to the people.

He said every decree made by Tunku Mahkota Ismail is both his right and responsibility as Regent, in the interests of the people of Johor.

“His Royal Highness serves as a check and balance to the Johor Menteri Besar, the SUK (State Secretary) and this should not interpreted as the Regent of Johor turning the state government into a palace puppet… that (claim) is rather exaggerated.

“As a member of the UMNO Supreme Council, I have never once heard it suggested that Johor UMNO is somehow a puppet controlled by the palace,” he told reporters after meeting the Barisan Nasional (BN) Kulai leadership here today.

Reezal Merican said this when commenting on the action of Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who decided to leave the party after claiming that Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had become a “pak turut” (yes-man), thus making Johor UMNO a 'tied puppet'.

He also questioned the motives of Mohd Puad, a former Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, for trying to drag the Royal institution into the state’s political landscape, especially with Johor about to hold its state election.

The Election Commission (EC) has set June 27 as nomination day and July 11 as polling day.

-- BERNAMA