Johor said its representatives were absent from the 241st Conference of Rulers meeting at Istana Negara on Wednesday as most of the state’s leaders, including its monarch Ibrahim Ismail Iskandar, were occupied with a function of the Royal Johor Military Force (Askar Timbalan Setia Negeri Johor).

An official of the Johor government, who declined to be named, told Malaysiakini that the state’s leaders had attended a function for the changing of flags of the Johor Military Force at Dataran Istana Besar in Johor Bahru.

The source added that no representative was sent to the conference of rulers gathering as the Johor event, which clashed with the meeting, involved almost every state official.

“Almost all quarters were involved in the ceremony as it is rarely held and is very important,” said the source.

Johor is the only state in the country to have its own army.

Previous attempts by the federal government to have Johor dissolve the army were unsuccessful.

Yesterday, it was reported that Johor was absent from the meeting chaired by Yang Di Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

The meeting was attended by the heads of every state with the exception of Johor.

The heads of state were also accompanied by their respective menteri besar with the exception of Kelantan, which was represented by Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

The representatives for Malacca, Penang and Sabah were also accompanied by their respective chief ministers, while Sarawak sent House speaker Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.