Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman (above) has denied that the Pakatan Harapan government was monitoring Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and the crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

“As far as I know, no such orders were given either from the leadership or any parties of the Harapan government.

“If Tunku Ismail has proof that this is going on, I hope he will provide the information to us or the police,” Azis said, as reported by Sinar Harian today.

He added the government was prepared to investigate the matter if there were such activities in Malaysia.

“The government denies it and if it is true that Tunku Ismail has information about this, we ask that he inform us,” he said.

Yesterday, Tunku Ismail alleged in a post on Facebook that he and his father were being monitored by the new government.

He said he was informed of this by “government officials” and linked the allegation to Putrajaya’s alleged use of Israeli-made surveillance and intelligence-gathering technology.

Johor police chief commissioner Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd was also reported saying that police had not yet received any reports on the claims made by Tunku Ismail.

“We have not received any reports lodged by the Johor palace on this matter,” he said.

No mass monitoring

Meanwhile, the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it does not do mass monitoring of social media or e-mails

"The MCMC does not carry out mass monitoring of any social media or emails," said its acting chairperson Mohd Ali Mohamad Nor in a brief statement today.

"Any investigations into social media postings and enforcement action are carried out as a result of complaints or requests by law enforcement agencies," he added.

He said the government upheld the right to freedom of speech and privacy within the confines of the law and the MCMC would assist if there was a breach of the law.

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Mohamad Fuzi Harun also reportedly assured that neither the Johor ruler nor the crown prince was being monitored by the police.

“I will request an audience with the sultan of Johor to inform him of this,” he said in a statement today as reported by Bernama.