Tun M Reminds TMJ Who Can Oust Him After The Crown Prince Told A Crowd To 'Change The PM'
"Only the people can change the prime minister."
By Sadho Ram — 28 Apr 2019, 06:33 PM
Earlier today, 28 April, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was asked to comment on a recent video clip that showed the Johor Crown Prince (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, as telling a crowd that they should change the prime minister of the country
The question was asked during a press conference in Beijing, China, where Tun Dr Mahathir is attending a symposium on the Belt and Road Initiative.
The veteran leader noted that in a democracy, prime ministers can only be changed by public vote, but ascension to the throne is not cast in stone for the heir-designate.
"We need to remember the past when a crown prince had to abdicate and the position was given to his younger brother. That's the crown prince, a crown prince can be changed. Only the people can change the prime minister, not just anybody or someone who thinks he is big," he said in his reply that was streamed live to Malaysia.
Tun Dr Mahathir delivers a speech at the opening ceremony for the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.
Image via Today OnlineThe Prime Minister was referring to the case of late Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail of Johor, then the crown prince who lost the status in 1961 over alleged misbehaviour.
Tun Dr Mahathir also said that TMJ can vote him out if he can
"He thinks he is 'orang besar' (someone big), but he is just 'orang kecil' (an ordinary person). If he thinks he's big, go and vote and oust me," Tun M said sarcastically.
Recently, a video that went viral on social media showed TMJ making a remark about changing the country's prime minister
The video is from Wednesday night, 24 April, when TMJ was leaving the Tan Sri Dato' Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin, Johor, after football club Johor Darul Ta’zim’s 0-1 defeat to Shandong Luneng in the AFC Champions League.
According to a report in Malaysiakini, which first reported about the video, as the black sports utility vehicle ferrying TMJ was driving off, fans along the road chanted "Hidup TMJ" but one shouted "change Mora", in reference to JDT's coach Benjamin Mora.
At which point, TMJ's vehicle stopped and the crown prince stuck his head out of the window and said: "Instead of changing Mora, it's better to change the prime minister", prompting a burst of laughter from the fans.