COMMENT Dr Mahathir Mohamad appears to have found an unlikely ally in Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim with regard to his attempt to evict Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak from Putrajaya.

It is common knowledge that Tunku Ismail's late grandfather was not too fond of Mahathir. Then again, not many royals were.

The Johor royal household is often described as being cast in a different mould, with one source close to the family, remarking: "You cannot pressure them."

Tunku Ismail has always been a prince who speaks his mind. This trait is evident in his scathing comments on the deplorable state of Malaysian football that often ruffle the feathers of another royal household, which incidentally backs Najib...