Pua questions royal role in politics, wonders about Sedition Act risk
Published: Jun 22, 2026 4:09 PM
Updated: 7:12 PM
DAP disciplinary committee chief Tony Pua has raised a question while also wondering whether asking it could land him in trouble under the Sedition Act.
Although he did not mention names, it is believed that the question refers to Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s remarks, in which, among others, he argued that financial leakages do not plague the state, but rather a revenue drain to Putrajaya.
“When senior members of the royalty get openly involved directly (or even indirectly) with politics and political campaigns, demonstrating bias and partiality, are they then not subjecting themselves to rebuttals and retorts?” asked Pua (above) in a brief Facebook post.
“In that case, are these royalty members above reproach? Will the Sedition Act still apply?” he added.
Pua, a former lawmaker, is no stranger to ruffling royal feathers, having recently come under police investigation after a deluge of reports were lodged against him for stating that the constitutional system binds Malaysian monarchs and cannot issue binding decrees to legislate all aspects of people’s lives.
His statement came in the wake of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah telling Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki and former Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu to visit Dataran Selangor and understand the principles of the Rukun Negara displayed on the monument plaque there.
Regent’s response to PM
Tunku Ismail’s recent statement was in response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's remark that Johor is a wealthy state facing a leakage problem.
The regent called on the federal government to return at least a quarter of the revenue collected from the state.
Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
"We contribute (to the federal government) our state revenue of more than RM40 billion a year, and only RM2 billion to RM3 billion is returned to take care of 4.9 million Johor residents - how (does that make sense)?
"That is illogical,” he added.
READ MORE: How Johor royals' influence may make naming MB candidate a bad idea for non-BN parties
Tunku Ismail also highlighted delays in major healthcare projects, including the Pasir Gudang Hospital, which he said was saved from possible cancellation following his intervention.
The regent’s remarks come ahead of a state election in which the Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan would be locking horns with BN, which is its ally at the federal level.
"We contribute (to the federal government) our state revenue of more than RM40 billion a year, and only RM2 billion to RM3 billion is returned to take care of 4.9 million Johor residents - how (does that make sense)?
"That is illogical,” he added.
READ MORE: How Johor royals' influence may make naming MB candidate a bad idea for non-BN parties
Tunku Ismail also highlighted delays in major healthcare projects, including the Pasir Gudang Hospital, which he said was saved from possible cancellation following his intervention.
The regent’s remarks come ahead of a state election in which the Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan would be locking horns with BN, which is its ally at the federal level.
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