Seemingly impervious to Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Tunku Ibrahim’s warnings, Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz has doubled down on his attack on the heir to the Johor throne by saying Tunku Ismail erred in acusing Prime Minister Najib Razak of obfuscation.
Astro Awani reports that Nazri today asserted Tunku Ismail was wrong to accuse Najib of “having something to hide” when he did not attend the #Nothing2Hide forum held in the Putra World Trade Centre on June 5.
“I would understand if His Royal Highness said “I am disappointed that Najib did not attend.” I can accept that. That’s not meddling in politics,” he said.
“But he said, “Of course Najib did not attend #Nothing2Hide because there was something he wanted to hide.
“That was a judgment call. That meant that Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim of Johor had deemed the Prime Minister guilty. That is what does not sit well with me,” Nazri proclaimed.
Nazri and Tunku Ismail have waged a not-so-covert war of words against each other since Najib’s no-show at the #Nothing2Hide forum, in which the Prime Minister was supposed to have met with NGOs to elaborate on the challenges faced by scandal-ridden sovereign development fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Najib withdrew his participation at the last minute, citing police warnings that the event was not safe. Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib’s most vociferous detractor from within UMNO, took the stage instead and began speaking against Najib’s alleged transgressions before being asked to stop by police officers at the event.
Tunku Ismail posted a message via the official Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page to denounce Najib’s withdawal as reflecting the PM’s lack of acountability and respect for the people.
Nazri then called out the Crown Prince for interfering in national politics, a rare occurence among members of the Malay nobility.
The Tourism Minister has said he was prepared to be investigated for his statements against Tunku Ismail, and was willing to cooperate fully with the police.
Nazri is now being probed by the PDRM for causing “public mischief” – a far different case from the sedition investigation he was speculated to be the subject off after his spat with Tunku Ismail kicked off.
Photo: The Malaysian Insider
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