Harapan, royals getting along just fine, says home minister

The clash between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim may be viewed by some people as an erosion in the ties between the Pakatan Harapan government and the Malay royalty

However, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said, both Putrajaya and the sultans maintained a good relationship.

"The relationship is good, it is always good... I don't think that just one or two incidents mean that we don't have a good relationship with the rulers," he said in a joint media interview yesterday.

"We acknowledge their role in society and understand the people's respect for the royal institution. As such, Harapan can't differ in its approach from what is the societal norm," Muhyiddin added.

The prime minister and the Johor palace have recently disagreed, among others, on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as well as on the appointment of the Johor menteri besar and the state executive councillors.

After Tunku Ismail called for the prime minister to be replaced, Mahathir retorted that only the people could decide on who they wanted to lead them.

Muhyiddin said it was normal for an odd disagreement or two to crop up between the royalty and the government, but what matters is that the relationship remains cordial despite this.

Asked if royal meddling would impede the government, Muhyiddin replied that it would, but he went on to stress that problems would not arise if everyone stuck to their roles, as outlined by the Federal Constitution.

"The royals are constitutional monarchs. Their role is in the constitution.

"In a democracy like Malaysia, if we follow the constitution, whether we are regular citizens, the government or the royalty, then there won't be a problem," Muhyiddin added. - Mkini