Pahang palace strips Nicky Liow of his Datuk Seri title

KUANTAN: The Pahang palace has revoked the “Datuk Seri” title held by fugitive businessman Liow Soon Hee, also known as Nicky Liow, with immediate effect.

State Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak said the palace also revoked the “Datuk” title bestowed on his brother Liow Wei Loon.

“The revocation was in accordance with the order issued by the Sultan of Pahang. The nominees are not allowed to use any title bestowed previously and must return the awards to the Pahang State Secretary’s Office, ” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Sallehuddin said the letter of award revocation was sent to the nominees on April 21.

On April 9, Liow and his brother were charged in absentia at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court in Selangor for alleged involvement in an organised crime group.

According to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador on March 30, Liow, who has been linked to a Macau scam syndicate operation, was believed to have at least 34 law enforcement agency personnel under his payroll, including a former deputy public prosecutor to act as a fixer for the syndicate.

Police began massive operations to cripple the syndicate after receiving a police report on the bogus sale of a cellphone worth RM1,500 in Pontian.

Liow, the leader of Winner Dynasty Group, is believed to be on the run with several bags of cash.

Investigations revealed that Liow, 33, was last seen at Setiawalk, Puchong, on March 20.

He is believed to be hiding in the country.

The police had obtained an Interpol Red Notice to locate and arrest the missing syndicate leader and his Chinese assistant Niu Zhi aged 31.