(June 15): Johor's outspoken crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim today warned Putrajaya against using him to divert attention from the issues plaguing the nation.

In hitting out at Putrajaya, Tunku Ismail said the country, instead, needed clean and transparent politicians, who would carry out their duties with sincerity and integrity.

"Do not use me to divert the attention from national issues. This country needs politicians who are clean and transparent, who carry out their duties with sincerity and integrity," he said in a Facebook posting today.

Tunku Ismail has been in a spat with Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who ticked off the prince for an earlier posting last Friday that implied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had shirked responsibility by not showing up at the "Nothing to Hide" dialogue on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

"How can you have a dialogue called Nothing2Hide featuring a person who has everything to hide? Obviously he won't show up," Tunku Ismail had said in the post on June 5, the same day as the dialogue.

"For those who have been entrusted with the responsibility, do not blame the people for losing confidence and trust in you, but think of why they no longer have the confidence and trust in you."

Nazri, who is also an Umno supreme council member, had said yesterday that rulers and members of the royal family were not above the law and should not comment on politics "otherwise he will be subject to the same rule and we will whack him".

Following Nazri's warning to the prince to stay out of politics, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police will investigate the minister under the Sedition Act 1948 over his statement.

In today's posting, Tunku Ismail slammed Nazri, saying he had never asked anyone to step down or resign but had only reminded leaders of their roles and responsibilities.

"If you cannot deal with that, it just shows your arrogance to the people."

The prince also said that he did not think the people would fall for the attacks made against him, adding that he did not have to defend the rakyat but has decided to stand by them.

"Alhamdulillah, I have been blessed with a comfortable life, and I can just live my own life and be oblivious to the worries of my people, but here I am, standing firm by their side.

"So for those wanting to tarnish my image and make me public enemy number one, the people are smarter than that, and they can think for themselves." – The Malaysian Insider