JOHOR BARU, June 16 — A large number of Malay non-governmental organisations gathered outside the Johor palace in Bukit Serene here to show their support for the state crown prince who has come under fire from a federal minister.
The rally, organised by Gabung Johor, have spurred some 2,000 people to gather at the parking area outside the palace main gates from as early as 3.30pm with chants of “Daulat Tuanku!” filling the air.
“The gathering is also to show Nazri or any minister for that matter, that any state sultan and the Malay royal institution should be respected,” Gabung Johor representative Rosli Othman said.
He was referring to the public spat between Johor crown prince HRH Brigadier General Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz being played out largely through media reports and Facebook after the royal criticised Putrajaya.
Rosli said Johoreans felt it was unbecoming of the minister to publicly chide a member of the royal family.
He added that the NGOs had prepared a statement expressing their support for the royal institution and hoped to submit it to the palace.
Police officers were also seen outside the palace, helping to direct traffic along Jalan Skudai.
At 5pm, palace officials allowed two Gabung Johor spokesmen Rosli and Abdullah Mohd Yusoff to enter the ground to hand over their memorandum of support.
Johorean Mohd Azraei Mahmud, 39, said he attended the rally to show his loyalty to the state.
“It is also a show of solidarity for the other Johoreans and friends who made the effort to organise the event,” he said when met after the rally.
