Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has urged everybody to stop playing up the issue of him or Crown Prince Tunku Ismail shaking hands with members of the public.

Sultan Ibrahim said he shakes hands with people from all segments of society, male or female, as part of his role as the state ruler.

"I don't go out my way to shake hands with females, but as a ruler, I am concerned about the people's wish to shake hands (with me).

“I do not want to offend and shame the people, who may be uncomfortable if I do not respond to them when they stretch out their hands.

"Thanks for the advice, but doesn’t the ruler show his concerns for the people as part of religious teaching?" Sultan Ibrahim said when opening the 60th state level Quran Reciting Competition at Dataran Tanjung Emas yesterday.

He urged everyone to stop seeking publicity for personal gains, which would spoil the unity of society that had been built all this while.

Tunku Ismail has previously responded to negative comments relating to JDT player Mohd Safiq Rahim's wife shaking hands with him.

The crown prince said when it came to religion, the people were nothing compared with the Almighty, therefore only Allah could judge the people, not their fellow human beings.

"I'm also going to stick to my customs and traditions as a Malay because I'm born Malay.

"If there are some of you who wish to be an Arab and practise Arab culture, and do not wish to follow our Malay customs and traditions, that is up to you. At least I'm real and not a hypocrite and the people of Johor know who their ruler is.

"I don't pretend to wear a jubah but behind closed doors am addicted to drugs, and neither am I a gambling junkie. I do not steal from my people and I always speak the truth," Tunku Ismail added.

Later, in a video posting on Facebook, the crown prince sarcastically put on oversized gloves before shaking hands with two women.