Confirmed: Pahang palace has revoked Gnanaraja’s Datuk Seri title

KUANTAN: The Pahang palace has revoked businessman G. Gnanaraja’s “Datuk Seri” title, the state government has confirmed.

State secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak said in a letter dated March 13 that the Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang award, which was conferred on Gnanaraja on March 19, 2014, had been revoked and cancelled with immediate effect.

The award, which carries the title “Datuk Seri”, was granted in conjunction with Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah's 83rd birthday.

Dr Sallehuddin also said Gnanaraja would not be allowed to use the “Datuk Seri” title any longer and must return the award to the protocol and official events management division of the state secretary's office.

A check with the division found that Gnanaraja had yet to return the medal.

Earlier Wednesday, Malaysiakini reported that the businessman denied having been stripped of his title.

“(I’m) still Datuk Seri. That is just a rumour,” the news portal quoted him as saying at the Shah Alam Sessions Court.