Whoever claims Johor aware of STS project is lying, prince returns fire

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad described the ship-to-ship (STS) hub project in Johor as public knowledge, but Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim appeared to suggest otherwise.

“Whoever says Johor is aware is lying,” he said in a Facebook posting this evening.

Tunku Ismail revealed that he had no knowledge regarding the project nor did his father, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

The prince also uploaded an audio recording of Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian telling reporters yesterday that he was in the dark as well.

“Putrajaya has acted unconstitutionally twice,” he said.

“Firstly, with regard to the STS project in Johor waters. Tuanku Sultan Johor and I are not aware of the project. The menteri besar is also not aware based on the attached voice recording.

“The state government including the Land and Mines office is also unaware...”

Tunku Ismail said anything within three nautical miles off the shores of Johor – in particular, matters pertaining to land and water – is the sole prerogative of the state.

“Is Putrajaya trying to usurp the powers of the state?” he asked.

Read more: I don't have to tell people one by one - Dr M on 'STS' project in Johor

Talks ongoing

At a press conference in Putrajaya earlier, Mahathir claimed that talks regarding the project had been ongoing for a long time.

The prime minister was also surprised when a reporter told him that Tunku Ismail did not know about the project. Up to that point, the prince had not indicated as such.

“He (Tunku Ismail) is in Johor. Many Johoreans know about this, he doesn't (so) I am surprised. He knows about a lot of things, but this, he doesn’t know,” said the prime minister.

Quizzed on the menteri besar being in the dark, Mahathir said he has since informed Osman of the matter.

“I think this is public knowledge. If people don't know, I don't have to go around telling people one by one, do you know this, do you know this, do you know this. See, I don't do that," he added.

Mahathir was speaking after witnessing an agreement being signed between KA Petra Sdn Bhd and Hong Kong's Hutchinson Port Holdings Ltd at the Le Meridien Hotel. Both firms are involved in the STS project.

The premier was asked to comment on a posting by Gerakan Muafakat Johor, which was reproduced on Tunku Ismail's Facebook page.

The posting, among others, claimed that the project was hatched in a secretive manner and benefited the cronies of certain leaders.

Dismissing the cronyism allegation, Mahathir argued that all Malaysians were his cronies.

Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail, in his latest posting, said Putrajaya's second unconstitutional act was ratifying the Rome Statute.

“The government signed the instrument without getting consent from the Conference of Rulers,” he added.

Putrajaya has repeatedly stated that ratification of the Rome Statute does not require royal consent.