Tuanku, how can I be Bangsa Johor?

Fascinated with Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s Bangsa Johor, I would like to ask His Majesty how I can become a Johorean, apart from having to live in Johor.

The reason is that it is obvious that the Johor royal family cares for its subjects, irrespective of race, religion or political affiliations.

I was born in Pahang, registered in Negeri Sembilan and raised for the most part of my life in Kuala Lumpur, but for the past 20 years, I have been living in Selangor. So why Bangsa Johor?

That’s because - except for one occasion where Peka president Sharifah Sabrina Syed Akil was arrested for some reasons unknown to us - based on media reports that I have read, I find Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim has been speaking just the right things that we can expect from a good ruler.

I have also received from several sources a message that has been circulating purportedly coming from the Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofia Sultan Idris Shah (photo) talking about the need to respect all faiths.

This, together with the sultan’s reprimand against the Muslims-only laundrette, prompted me to ask on several occasions, “Tuanku, how can I be become a member of Bangsa Johor? Knowing that I am not born in Johor, how can I be transplanted there, although I am currently residing in Selangor?”

Contrary to past reports back in the 80s and 90s, I think there are now a lot of positive vibes coming from the Johor royalty.

‘Bangsa Malaysia’

If only the good values exuberated from the royal family can create what “Bangsa Malaysia” is supposed to be, that would be great. I wish every ruler would take such a proactive stance to protect their subjects to ensure that we become what is known as “Bangsa Malaysia”.

Currently, as it is, Malaysia under BN and Umno in particular, is unable to live up to what it used to be during the early years of nationhood. The government is giving too much attention to the right-wing Islamic and Malay lobbyists, to the exclusion of non-Muslims and non-Malays.

While Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak speaks so much about 1Malaysia, he has failed the acid test too many times. Why, for example, does he allow the bad hats linked to Umno such as Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Mohd Yusof (photo) to continue to cause trouble?

Can Jamal be so invincible that he cannot be sacked as Umno division chief for all his wrongdoings that we see? Why is no one in Umno able to reprimand him?

I dare to put a thousand ringgit on the table to bet (not I will bet) that if Jamal had dared to do this in the state of Johor, he would be immediately reprimanded, if not by the sultan, at least by Tunku Ismail.

Seditious actions

Previously, there were other bad hats and troublemakers, some making highly seditious remarks, but all these were let off without having to face arrest or prosecution. One of them is Rani Kulup and the other is Ibrahim Ali (photo) of Perkasa notoriety. There is another one who has become very silent in recent years - Mohd Ali Baharom, or Ali Tinju.

They are a nuisance to what would otherwise be “Bangsa Malaysia”. Collectively, their antics have distanced me from Umno, but I still maintain good relations with some Umno politicians who appear more genuine such as former second finance minister, Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

Apart from Najib’s reputation as the man identified as Malaysian Official 1 in the civil suit filed by the US Department of Justice, these “rascals” (at least to me, but “heroes” to some) have been a bane to Umno’s own reputation for many years.

And because MCA, Gerakan, and MIC did nothing to put a stop to the nonsense that fills our media pages, I am equally disappointed with these political parties. They share the same bed with Umno, but they fail to protect the interests of all Malaysians.

For that, I still look to Pakatan Harapan, with the hope that there are good men and women who would stand up for what is right and put a stop to the nonsense.

I believe former opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, having experienced years of imprisonment, or his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and even daughter, Nurul Izzah, would be in a better position to help turn all Malaysians to be “Bangsa Malaysia” that we can all be proud of.

For now, Tuanku, how can I become Bangsa Johor?

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STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.- Mkini