Jailed former Selangor MB can no longer be addressed as ‘Datuk Seri’

PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Selangor has stripped former Selangor mentri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo (pic) of his “Datuk Seri” title after he was found guilty of corruption.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah issued the order, saying he viewed that Dr Mohd Khir was “no longer fit to hold the title”, said State Secretary Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi in a statement yesterday.

The order is effective Sept 30.

Dr Mohd Khir, who was awarded the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor in 2001, will no longer be allowed to use the “Datuk Seri” title.

Others are also not allowed to refer to him by the title.

The Sultan views seriously the reputation of those who receive any award from Selangor, especially those from the country and state leaders who are involved in unhealthy acts, such as corruption, criminal breach of trust and abuse of power.

“Those who receive the award should not be involved in any misappropriation and criminal activities to protect the dignity of the award that he is wearing besides preserving his status,” Mohd Khusrin said in the statement.

On Sept 22, the Federal Court upheld Dr Mohd Khir’s 12-month jail sentence and found him guilty of using his position to obtain two plots of land and a bungalow unit in Section 7, Shah Alam, eight years ago.

The former mentri besar was charged with obtaining for himself and his wife two lots of land and a bungalow at No. 8 & 10 Jalan Suasa 7/1L through Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni.

The properties were bought at RM3.5mil, compared with the price of RM6.5mil paid for it by Ditamas on Dec 23, 2004.