Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needs to be more decisive for the sake of Malaysia and its people.
Also known by his Malay moniker Tengku Mahkota Johor (TMJ), he said Anwar needs to be more assertive and bolder on critical issues, and he questioned the prime minister’s advisers.
“In my opinion, I think he has to execute more in making decisions.
“I am uncertain whether he has a good team, I don’t think he does,” Tunku Ismail said on the most recent episode of Keluar Sekejap, the podcast hosted by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.
While the prime minister has the intention to take action which desires the country’s prosperity, Tunku Ismail said he should implement his plans more effectively and be courageous in making decisions.
The prince also stressed the importance of executing decisions promptly, highlighting that good intentions alone are not sufficient for effective governance.
“We cannot please everyone, and we must make decisions that are in the best interest of the country.
“Sometimes, even if it means being hated for making a good decision for the country, you have to bite the bullet,” he said.
He, however, did not elaborate on which issues and decisions by Anwar which he deemed negative.
Earlier, when Tunku Ismail spoke about the need to educate the people by improving the education system, he also expressed a desire for more qualified individuals to serve the nation and its industries.
He said that the qualified ones should be the ones running the country, and it should not be based on seniority but on merits.
At one point, Khairy asked if Tunku Ismail was allowed to discuss politics, to which the latter said the monarchy was above politics, which meant that they could not participate in the process.
However, he was free to air his views and be criticised for them.
“How long have I been critiqued? Anything happened (to anyone)? I don’t see anything happening. I am open to being criticised,” he said.
Khairy later asked for Tunku Ismail’s view on DAP, in view of the “Malay phobia” of the party, to which the crown prince said he preferred to evaluate individuals rather than parties.
“(Youth and Sports Minister) Hannah Yeoh. I think she’s superb because she’s just someone who focuses on her job… It’s the same with (Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew) Chin Tong.
“I don’t think I can say whether they are relevant or whether they are good. It’s not my place because I only know very few individuals from those parties. Same with PKR and Umno,” he said.
In view of Umno’s Johor roots, Khairy asked Tunku Ismail for his views on Umno’s future, to which the latter said Umno has a future but it required a change of guard.
“So, I think there needs to be people who can bring a different dynamic that can relate to the current scenario of the country today. And there is a future.
“But some people have to go,” he said.