After meeting with those who gathered at the Istana Bukit Serene this evening, Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim delivered a brief speech.

"I do not wish to say much because there are many in Putrajaya who want to whack me," he said sarcastically.

However, the 31-year-old prince assured that he would not be cowed by his detractors.

"I wish to stress that I will always uphold the sovereignty of the state of Johor and continue to voice out if necessary for the well-being of Johoreans and Malaysians.

"As my father (Sultan Ibrahim Ismail) has mentioned, I am a subject of the people of Johor," he said.

A copy of the speech was uploaded on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page, which is the official page of the state football team.

Tunku Ismail is the president of the Johor Football Association and often posted his views on this page.

Some 2,000 people had gathered outside the palace expressing support for the royal family and calling for Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz's resignation.

This is after the minister had warned the prince not to meddle in politics after Tunku Ismail mocked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for not turning up at the 'Nothing to Hide' dialogue.

Nazri had warned that the prince risked being "whacked" and losing respect.