JOHOR BAHRU: Since his ascension to the throne, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor has made numerous significant statements. One of the most well-known is his advocacy for the concept of “Bangsa Johor”. However, whenever he is abroad, the Sultan will always identify himself first as just “a Malaysian”.
“When I am overseas, if anyone asks me where I am from, I will reply, ‘I am Malaysian.’”
‘I’m Malaysian first’
Sultan Ibrahim recently granted an exclusive interview to Sin Chew Daily at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Bahru, discussing the concept of “Bangsa Johor”, the importance of national unity, the future of the state of Johor, and the significance of China to Malaysia.
This is the first time Sultan Ibrahim has granted an exclusive interview to a Chinese language media since he became the Johor Sultan in 2010 and officially crowned in 2015.
While taking pride in his “Bangsa Johor” concept all these years, the Sultan emphasised that he had never sidelined any other ethnic community in this country. In many official occasions, he would even make arrangements for the Malays, Chinese and Indians to be seated together rather than separately.
When abroad, the Sultan will never refer himself as a “Johorean” in front of foreigners. Instead, he will identify himself as a Malaysian before telling people he hails from Johor, the southernmost state of Malaysia.
Furthermore, the Sultan will point out Singapore and Thailand on the map in order to orientate people of Malaysia’s exact location. He noted that some foreigners, in particular the Americans, have very poor geographical knowledge and would mistakenly think that Malaysia is somewhere near Africa!
Talking about Johor, the Sultan inadvertently expressed his frustration: “Nowadays, a mention of Johor will invoke jealousy, especially from the previous federal government. Even our football team is a target of envy. What was the football team say 20 years ago? Nothing! But JDT (Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club) now wins every match!”
Continuing to stand up for his state, the Sultan questioned why the North-South Expressway was built from north to south, whereby the gateway to the Asian mainland is in the south, implying that the highway should have been constructed from south to north instead.
“We feel like we’re an adopted child!
“We are actually the biggest contributor to the federal revenue!”
This is not the first time the Sultan has raised his concerns to the federal government.
On June 16, 2022, while presiding over the opening of the 15th Johor State Legislative Assembly’s first session, he sternly called on the government to fulfil its promises to improve the state’s infrastructure.
At that time, he highlighted that Johor, a major contributor to the national economy, annually contributes about RM13 billion in taxes, yet federal funding to the state does not proportionally match, making Johor feel like an adopted child.
All are ‘Bangsa Johor’
Sultan Ibrahim has repeatedly stressed that the Chinese were invited to Johor to participate in its development and were not unwelcome guests.
He said, “You are all ‘Bangsa Johor’ because you have me!”
When asked to convey a message to the local Chinese community amidst the current political concerns, the Sultan responded, “If the state is to survive, and if I can have it my way… let one party rule, and that party is Parti Bangsa Johor!”
His Majesty is of the view that under the “Bangsa Johor” concept, different ethnic groups in the state will live together harmoniously. Even members of the Johor royal family have different ethnic backgrounds. For instance, the Sultan’s great-great-grandmother was of Chinese descent.
The Sultan explained that Johor once practised a different system from Kuala Lumpur, known as the “Kangchu” system. His great-grandmother, Wong Ah Joke, was the daughter of a “Kangchu” and later became Sultan Fatimah after marrying the Sultan.
“In my family, we have different bloodlines; we are of mixed heritage. That’s why I never look down on any ethnic group. And this is why our foundation treats all ethnic groups fairly.
“The Chinese bloodline is part of Bangsa Johor; so are the Indian bloodline and the local Malay people
“This is my Bangsa Johor concept.”
Maintaining this concept, the Sultan’s vision of harmony is not confined to the living areas of various ethnic groups.
He posed a question: “Guess where the most harmonious state assembly in the country is?” The answer, he hinted, is obvious.
“In the Johor State Assembly, the opposition camp is no longer called the ‘opposition’ (pembangkang) but the ‘balancing side’ (pengimbang). The balancing side is like an equilibrium.
“Opposition members are like friends; we even dine together!”
Bangsa Johor has a long history
Talking about “Bangsa Johor”, Sultan Ibrahim asserted that it is not a new notion.
“What is the title of the state anthem? It’s Lagu Bangsa Johor.”
“My great-great-grandfather was the one first promoting this concept. Lagu Bangsa Johor embodies this long-standing concept.”
Although many may not be aware of the long-standing “Bangsa Johor” concept, Sultan Ibrahim felt that since he introduced it in the Johor State Assembly, many Chinese people in the state have genuinely identified themselves as part of “Bangsa Johor” now.
The Sultan emphasised that there are no differences between the Chinese, Indians and Malays in Johor.
“The Chinese are not marginalised; you are all part of Bangsa Johor!”
The Sultan shared that whenever he interacts with people in his public engagements, he could sense their pride in being part of Bangsa Johor. “So, we are doing the right thing!”
To more effectively assist various ethnic groups, Sultan Ibrahim has established foundations targeting different communities, including Sultan Fatimah Foundation for the Chinese community (headed by Datuk Wong Khong Soon), Sultan Loke Yah Foundation for the Indian community (headed by Datuk Sogunmalan Ramasamy), Sultan Ibrahim Foundation, and Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Foundation, primarily focusing on educational assistance.
The Sultan specifically mentioned Datuk Wong Khong Soon, the head of Sultan Fatimah Foundation, saying, “Major Cina Datuk Wong’s family has a historical connection with the royal family, namely Wong Ah Fook.”
Regarding this historical connection, the Sultan revealed that Istana Besar in Johor Bahru was built by the Chinese community for Sultan Abu Bakar. The palace still stands today as a symbol of loyalty to the Sultan.
Upbeat about Johor’s development over next five years
Looking ahead to the next five years, Sultan Ibrahim holds an optimistic and positive outlook for his state.
“Property prices in Johor will rise, especially in areas around the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS).”
Consequently, the Sultan said he had advised the relevant ministers to have a long-term vision and prepare the infrastructure in surrounding areas to fully accommodate the transportation needs of the people for the next ten years.
His Majesty underscored the importance of completing the RTS project on time, as any delay would mean substantial compensation to Singapore.
The Sultan revealed that once the RTS starts operation, he plans to personally drive the first train from Johor to Singapore and back.
Many people might not be aware that Sultan Ibrahim, who enjoys the thrill of driving, holds licences not only for motorcycles and cars but also trains. He even once drove the legendary Eastern & Oriental Express from Johor to Kuala Lumpur!
“Of course, the passengers had no idea who was driving the train, but one thing is for sure, the entire journey was very smooth,” he added laughingly.
In addition to driving, the Sultan is also an expert in manning boats and aircraft.
He said jokingly, “I can man everything except a submarine because I must know where I’m heading to!”
On the postponed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed rail (HSR) project, the Sultan offered his suggestion.
“Perhaps a 30-year concession with low-interest loans could be granted to the operator, with a discussion on the partnership model after 30 years.”
Behind the scenes
Sultan Ibrahim is not a fan of formalities.
We had actually prepared some polite greetings at the opening, including the use of palace terms such as patik, but the Sultan just interrupted and said casually, “You can just ask your questions directly!”
Before the interview, we were informed that we could conduct it in either Malay or English. We started in Malay, but the Sultan responded in English, and the entire interview subsequently proceeded in English.
Before arriving at Istana Bukit Serene, we had heard that the Johor Sultan, known for being serious and stern, would rarely smile.
We had also been cautioned not to perform the traditional Malay gesture of “salam” when meeting him, as he might respond with something like, “I’m still alive; I’m not a deity. Why are you bowing to me?”
As first-time visitors, we were naturally rather apprehensive, fearing we might accidentally breach some palace etiquette.
However, after the Sultan seated us and then casually interrupted our formal greetings, it was like a barrier removed.
The whole interview proceeded smoothly in a relaxed atmosphere, significantly overrunning its scheduled time and causing the next visitor to wait a full 40 minutes!
The Sultan, who is often seen as a solemn and imposing figure in the media, turned out to be a great storyteller during the interview: someone eager to share, speak openly, and leave nothing unsaid. This created a highly engaging atmosphere, even though some of the content, while captivating, might not be suitable for press report.
At times, the Sultan also displayed a good sense of humour. For example, when asked about his rumoured love for cooking, he not only admitted it but also added, “If you ever have the chance to taste my food, you will fall in love with it!” With a mischievous grin, he had everyone in stitches.
While the Malaysian royalty typically steers clear of politics, it’s inevitable for political figures and their power dynamics to come up in our conversation.
At one point, when talking about a certain issue, the Sultan’s use of Hainanese phrase “neither human nor ghost” (人不像人，鬼不像鬼) triggered a good laugh in the room!
We asked the Sultan how many Chinese dialects he knew, and he responded with “a little”. Following up, we asked in Hokkien, “Do you understand?” The Sultan promptly replied in Hokkien, “I understand,” and then added in Mandarin, “Thank you all!”
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