Editing Iskandar of Johor (section)

====Public responses and follow ups====
The assault resulted in a public outcry over the event<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|date=7 December 1992|title=Abdullah: Rakyat ashamed and angry|page=4|work=[[New Straits Times]]|access-date=20 September 2007|archive-date=26 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326111658/http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> which pressured all levels of the government up to the top ranks of the federal government to investigate into the matter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|date=7 December 1992|title=Stem violence, Malay congress to government|page=4|work=[[New Straits Times]]|access-date=20 September 2007|archive-date=26 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326111658/http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the closing months of 1992, and also the opening months of 1993, dozens of articles mentioning misdeeds by the royal families of several states–but in particular Sultan Iskandar himself were published.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|date=20 January 1993|title=List of criminal acts done by the Johor Sultan|page=4|work=[[New Straits Times]]|access-date=20 September 2007|archive-date=26 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326111658/http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> A good deal of these alleged misdeeds that were mentioned included the charging of exorbitant fines–way above the prescribed legal limits–upon offenders who had obstructed the Sultan's car, amongst others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|date=14 December 1992|title=Motorist: I was fined $500 for blocking royal motorcade|page=2|work=[[New Straits Times]]|access-date=20 September 2007|archive-date=26 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326111658/http://www.capi.uvic.ca/pubs/oc_papers/GILLEN.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sultan Iskandar, bore the brunt of the backlash by the numerous references centred towards alleged acts of criminal wrongdoings even though many of the listed acts were committed by other members of the royal family.<ref>Aliran Monthly, Aliran Kesedaran Negaran, 1984, pg 30</ref>

The criticisms roused by the press prompted Members of Parliament of the [[Dewan Rakyat]] to convene a special session on 10 December 1992. All 96 parliamentarians present passed a unanimous resolution<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com.my/index.php/business/13599-on-bringing-back-royal-immunity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303234834/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com.my/index.php/business/13599-on-bringing-back-royal-immunity|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2009|date=2 December 2008|title=On bringing back royal immunity|author=Abdul Aziz Bari|publisher=The Malaysian Insider}}</ref> which called for action to curb the powers of the rulers if necessary. During the special meeting, parliamentarians disclosed past criminal records of Sultan Iskandar and his two sons, all of whom had been involved in a total of at least 23 cases of assault and manslaughter,<ref>''Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei (2004)'', Rowthorn, Benson, Benson, Kerr, Niven, pg 235</ref><ref name="Asian_Recorder">''Asian Recorder (1993)'', pg 22904</ref> five of which were committed by the Sultan after 1981, two by the Mahkota and three by the Bendahara.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://d.scribd.com/docs/1qk1gf12zfh2pc7brw49.pdf|date=20 January 1993|title=List of criminal acts done by the Johor Sultan|page=4|work=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref>

A bill was passed by both the [[Dewan Rakyat]] and [[Dewan Negara]] on 19 and 20 January 1993 respectively.<ref>Change to take its course: PM tables amendment Bill despite Rulers' disagreement, New Straits Times, 19 January 1993, pg 1, 4.</ref> The bill, which proposed to remove legal immunity was approved by six out of nine sultans<ref>Six Rulers say 'Yes', New Straits Times, 16 January 1993, pg 1, 2</ref>—but saw stiff opposition from three, two of which included Sultan [[Ismail Petra of Kelantan]] and the Sultan Iskandar himself. Sultan Iskandar took up the initiative to obtain more royal support to stall the implementation of the proposed bill. The bill, which proposed to strip rulers and members of the royal families of legal immunity, would make them prosecutable by the law in any cases of proven criminal wrongdoings.<ref>Kershaw (2001), pg 110–2</ref>

Sultan Iskandar organised a rally which was to be held outside the palace with the aim of garnering public support to stall the bill's implementation. However, this was cancelled after intense pressure from the government. A report made during the rally quoted Sultan Iskandar calling upon all local civil servants to boycott state and federal functions in a show of support for his motion.<ref>''Summary of World Broadcasts'' (1993), Phrase: "... Straits Times of 21 January, the Sultan of Johor is reported as"</ref> Meanwhile, the federal government continued to pressure the rulers into assenting to the bills, which they did after several revisions of the bill were made by the government.  Following which, the proposed bill was enshrined into the [[Constitution of Malaysia|Federal Constitution]] in March 1993.<ref>Crouch (1996), pg 147</ref>

The bill allowed rulers who violated the laws to be prosecuted, while the [[Sedition Act (Malaysia)|Sedition Act]] of 1948 was also amended to allow public criticism of the rulers.<ref>''Mahathir, the Secret of the Malaysian Success: The Secret of the Malaysian Success'', Somun, Somun-Krupalija, pg 155</ref> A special court was created–presided by the [[Lord President of the Federal Court]]–to empower and prosecute members of the rulers and immediate members of the royal household.<ref>[http://www.parlimen.gov.my/Undang/1993/Bill-DR-1.pdf A BILL intituled: An Act to amend the Federal Constitution.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326111659/http://www.parlimen.gov.my/Undang/1993/Bill-DR-1.pdf |date=26 March 2009 }}, [[Dewan Rakyat]], January 1993, Retrieved 7 January 2009</ref>