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'Don't speak with authority on Bangsa Johor without knowledge'
Published:  Aug 30, 2016 12:32 PM
Updated: 4:36 AM
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Johor monarch Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has reiterated that any person who does not know the history or background of a subject should not speak with authority on the matter.

In an interview with English daily News Straits Times, the sultan once again referred to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks that the ‘Bangsa Johor’ concept is unhealthy for Malaysia.

“As I mentioned earlier, Bangsa Johor is not a new creation, and its objective has always been to unite, not divide.

“The idea has been proven to work, again and again,” Sultan Ibrahim was quoted as saying.

The sultan had previously warned Mahathir to stop stirring the hornet’s nest and keep his mouth shut on the issue.

He also explained that the term 'Bangsa Johor' was coined by his great-grandfather in 1920 to unite all races in the state "for greater cooperation, harmony and peaceful existence".

Commenting further, Sultan Ibrahim said the concept is still relevant to this day.

“The spirit of Bangsa Johor is not just a saying. You have to care for Johor. And, to care for Johor means to be personally responsible in developing Johor.

“If you look at all the projects that I am personally involved in, they are all with the people of Johor in mind,” he said, citing as an example the Rumah Johor affordable housing scheme.

To a question on whether the new Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) led by former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin would further split the Malays, Sultan Ibrahim stressed that he is above politics.

“I am here to unite all Bangsa Johor. Not otherwise. That is all I have to say,” he said.

Muhyiddin had on Aug 9 formally registered Bersatu, together with Mahathir as its pro-tem committee chairperson.

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