Malaysian MP slams Johor crown prince over ‘most Hollywood’ populist label

Malaysian lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has fired back at Tunku Ismail Ibrahim after the Johor crown prince took a swipe at the former sports minister, describing him as the “most Hollywood” among populist politicians.

Tunku Ismail told a podcast show over the weekend that he “liked people who carry out their duties and show full care and concern for the people”.

“Before making any decisions, make an assessment first because we have many ‘Hollywood’ types among us. The most ‘Hollywood’ of all is the one in Muar,” he said, referring to the Johor town Syed Saddiq represents in parliament.

“I do not like Hollywood,” the royal said, as quoted by the New Straits Times.

Tunku Ismail, a prolific social media poster, also questioned publicity-seeking politicians who boasted about their work online. He urged youngsters to get the facts right before supporting such representatives.

The polo-playing son of Malaysia’s king revealed that royal family members had contributed more than 100 million ringgit (US$24 million) annually to several welfare initiatives, including education and healthcare, and did not promote their charitable acts on social media.