The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, has urged young people to be more discerning when evaluating political leaders, warning against being overly influenced by carefully crafted images on social media.
Speaking during the “Casual Evening Podcast with His Royal Highness the Regent of Johor and Johor Youth” on Saturday, he said popularity on digital platforms should not be the main measure of a leader’s ability to govern effectively.
He acknowledged that politicians need to maintain an online presence to engage with the public and showcase their work, but stressed that voters should assess leaders based on their performance and contributions rather than appearances.
Look beyond social media image
Tunku Ismail said the growing tendency to admire politicians who frequently attract attention on social media should change, as online popularity does not necessarily reflect leadership capability.
He noted that while public engagement is important, people should carefully evaluate individuals before making decisions about their support.
Referring to what appeared to be a political figure linked to the Muar parliamentary constituency, he remarked that there were many “Hollywood” actors in politics and added that he preferred leaders who focused on improving the lives of the people rather than seeking publicity.
Governance requires more than criticism
The Regent also reminded Johoreans to make mature judgments when selecting leaders, especially those entrusted with governing responsibilities.
Drawing from his experience working with various individuals, he said not everyone who is vocal in criticising others is capable of delivering results when given authority.
According to him, identifying problems and acting as an opposition figure may be easy, but governing effectively requires a different set of abilities and responsibilities.
He urged the people of Johor to be wise and objective when assessing political leaders.
Focus on Johor’s development and welfare
Tunku Ismail said his current priority is to ensure Johor’s continued development and safeguard the state’s welfare through cooperation with a government capable of delivering results.
He also revealed that the Johor Royal Family spends more than RM100 million annually on various assistance programmes, including support for hospitals, education, aid for the underprivileged, food assistance and sponsorships for haj pilgrims.
However, he said such efforts are carried out sincerely and are not publicised extensively on social media.
