Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim is a young man who likes to give his opinions on numerous issues, said former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Conceding that some of the prince's views might be wrong or wayward, he claimed that it would not affect the nation.

“Why then the need to humiliate him and his family?” he tweeted this afternoon.

Zaid also said politicians who excelled in street fighting and are familiar with gutter politics should reserve this skill for political opponents.

“Royal households don't deserve the same treatment,” he added.

In an earlier tweet, Zaid (photo) compared the current situation to the 1MDB scandal during the time of former premier Najib Abdul Razak.

“When Najib was having a free run on 1MDB, his ministers kept mum. Pakatan Harapan then poked fun at them for their silence.

“Now the PM is having a free run at the Johor Sultanate, and his ministers are no different. Pot calling the kettle black! Sad,” he said.

Zaid's comments come in the wake of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's latest salvo against Tunku Ismail. 

In a special media interview yesterday, the premier had described the prince as “stupid” and a “little boy.”

Mahathir was asked to comment on Tunku Ismail's statement that his father Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's good deeds, such as giving land to the people and government, were not highlighted.

The prince's statement came in the wake of a revelation that a plot of federal land earmarked for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) was transferred to the ruler.

Sultan Ibrahim has said since that he was prepared to surrender the land without cost.

Hours later, Mahathir's communications and media advisor A Kadir Jasin requested Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador "reopen the IP (investigation papers) which were frozen or closed,” but did not elaborate. 

He also asked the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to check how much taxes Mados Sdn Bhd has paid. Mados Sdn Bhd belongs to the Johor royal family.

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