SULTAN of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today said Putrajaya is treating the state “like a stepchild” despite it being a key contributor to the country’s economy.

The ruler lamented poorly maintained federal buildings in the state, such as the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Sultan Ismail Hospital and the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.

“I urge the federal government to fulfil the promise to upgrade the North-South Expressway to six lanes and the Senai Desaru Expressway to four lanes.

“Look at the condition of federal roads like Jalan Johor Baru-Mersing, which is damaged and full of potholes. This could endanger road users,” he was in his address at the first session of the 15th state assembly in Iskandar Puteri today.

“I feel that Johor is being treated like a stepchild, even though we are among the top contributors to the national economy.

“If this trend continues, Johor folk may agitate towards secession from Malaysia. Perhaps Johor can be more developed if we stand on our own,” he said.

The daily also reported the ruler as saying investments into Johor have dwindled since 2019, but noted that this was not because of Covid.

“This happened not because of Covid-19, but because of the virus of envy and jealousy towards Johor.

“There are investors who want to develop a solar energy field in Pengerang, but the federal government said there is no quota for it.

“There are investors who want to develop an energy centre and a deep sea port in Muar but there are ‘monkeys’ who are opposed to the project, even though it would provide jobs to the locals.”

Sultan Ibrahim also said that if any of Johor’s rights under the Federation of Malaya Agreement signed in 1948 and 1957 are breached, the state has the right to secede.

The ruler cited the federal government’s lackadaisical attitude in 2018 towards Johor’s sovereignty, when the then prime minister decided to drop the review bid for the Pulau Batu Puteh case at the International Court of Justice.

“The federal government did not consult Johor when making the decision, even though this involves Johor’s sovereignty,” said Sultan Ibrahim. – June 16, 2022.