Johor Crown Prince Tengku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has chastised those who politicise the de-gazetting of Pulau Kukup’s national park status, which he said will now be sultanate land.

"I don't understand why this issue is being played up and politicised.

"Land matters are the exclusive right of the state government," Tengku Ismail said on Twitter last night.

He added that whatever Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and the Johor government decide is in the state's best interests.

Tengku Ismail also said that Pulau Kukup would remain as a national park.

The crown prince said this in response to a social media user who chided him for claiming to be behind the current success of Malaysian football.

"Claim it Tuanku. Just as you have claimed Pulau Kukup," social media user Duke of KL said in reply to Tengku Ismail's tweet on football.

Meanwhile, a different social media user going by the name Musulman tweeted to Tengku Ismail seeking an audience for nature lovers with Sultan Ibrahim to get assurance that Pulau Kukup's ecosystem will be protected.

He replied, saying: "Yes. His Majesty and myself will be more than happy to meet them. Anytime."

Malaysiakini reported on Tuesday that Pulau Kukup had been de-gazetted as a national park.

In response to this, Tunku Ismail said the park would be converted to sultanate land and protected, similar to the crown parks in the United Kingdom.

It has since been revealed that the de-gazetting of Pulau Kukup was decided in March, when BN was still in control of Johor.

The current Pakatan Harapan state government has claimed to be in the dark over the matter.