KUALA LUMPUR: The Regent of Johor, His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim says that he has become the target of attacks due to his outspokenness.
He said he was very vocal to protect Johor's interest.
"There is a movement to assassinate my character as I am the most vocal.
"My aim and priority is the people of Johor," he said during a special podcast aired live on the Media Digital Johor Facebook page this afternoon.
Tunku Ismail said Johor had been pioneering many things for the betterment of the state and its people. Citing education, he said the state government had embarked on a pilot project with Singapore on a new education syllabus.
This, he said, will involve an exchange programme and teacher training involving three schools.
"We will assess the results. If positive, we can improve the syllabus in all schools in Johor. I wish to see Johor developed by people who are based on merit, not seniority.
"I wish to see 'anak Johor' who are not easily swayed and able to think rationally. Education is of the utmost importance," he said.
Tunku Ismail also touched on the need for Johor to be treated as a partner instead of one that belonged to anyone.
He said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim King of Malaysia, who is also the Sultan of Johor, used his own funds to refurbish the intensive care unit (ICU) ward at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) several years ago.
"We also had to speak up about the construction of a new hospital. There is a new hospital, but it took six years of consistent effort for me to convey our wishes to the federal government," he said.
Tunku Ismail also called for the establishment of Gabungan Bangsa Johor to safeguard the state's interests without needing to seek allocations from the federal government.
Likening it to the political parties in Sarawak, he said such a coalition is important for the state government to improve the system within Johor for the benefit of future generations.
"If Sarawak can do it, we can do it too. This will change our way of thinking. We need to take care of ourselves," he said.
Johor, he said, has from 1855 been a pioneer in many aspects.
"There is no need for us to follow the tempo of others. We had a constitution even before Malaysia, we think ahead," he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the case of Selangor FC footballer Faisal Halim, who was the victim of an acid attack, Tunku Ismail denied rumours on social media linking him to the incident.
He said the allegations were baseless as he has no motive to do so and does not perceive Faisal as a threat to him.
"Faisal Halim is not a threat to me. If I wanted to do something like that, I have bigger targets in the country—those who take the people's money, those responsible for the constitutional crisis, criminals who need to be eradicated.
"But Faisal, he's just a footballer. Why would I want to harm him? Faisal Halim is not a threat to me. He is a good player."
On the recent case where a disabled e-hailing driver was assaulted, Tunku Ismail said it had been done by a policeman and had nothing to do with him.
"I was not even there when the incident happened," he said, adding the incident should be investigated in a transparent manner and action taken against the culprit.