Constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari insisted that states, including Johor, cannot secede from the Federation of Malaysia.

He said this in response to Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim ( photo ) who in an interview with sports publication Fourth Official claimed the state can secede if the terms set out when it joined the federation was breached.

"The prince should not view the agreement between Johor and other states as private agreements between individuals.

"Some have said there is a right to enter federation but unfortunately the same cannot be said about leaving.

"In any case the prince can put up a claim in the court and see what the judges have to say about it rather than barking the one and same thing again and again," said Aziz who is attached to Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

He added that the only way for a state to exit the federation is through expulsion in Parliament.

Right to equality under constitution

Aziz also indicated that the prince may be subjected to the Sedition Act if he called for secession.

"I am not particularly fond of sedition but if one keeps talking about secession then the police better do something about it.

"Under the constitution there is a right to equality and certain Sabahans and Sarawakians have incurred the wrath of the law for saying the same thing," said Aziz ( photo ).

He said the Johor crown prince should be mindful of the provision of both the federal and state constitutions, pointing out that some states have sacrificed more or had a stronger claim to more rights.

"He must be aware that the so-called rights of Johor are also available to other states; especially Sabah and Sarawak which have bigger rights and autonomy.

"Selangor and Sabah have given more; the former gave KL and Putrajaya while Sabah surrendered Labuan," he said.