KLANG: The Selangor state titles awarded to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor have been revoked effective Sept 12.
A statement issued by the Selangor state secretariat and signed by state secretary Datuk Haris Kasim said the revocation was ordered by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
“The revocation of the state titles is in accordance with His Highness’ prerogative under Article XXXVIII and Article XXXIX of the Selangor State Constitution 1959 as well as the relevant Awards Statute and the convention practised in Selangor,’’ said Haris.
Haris, who is also the Selangor state awards registrar, said Najib was conferred the Keahlian Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) First Class, which carries the title Datuk Seri in 2004 and the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) Second Class, which comes with the title Datuk, in 1992.
“He has been charged at the High Court for several allegations involving abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering cases involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.
“The Federal Court had on Aug 23, 2022 upheld the charge and punishment earlier held by the Kuala Lumpur High Court,’’ added Haris.
He said given the charge and subsequent punishment imposed upon Najib, the titles he had received from the state had been revoked.
Haris said Rosmah received the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) First Class, which carries the title Datin Paduka Seri, in 2005.
“She has been charged in court for three allegations involving seeking and soliciting bribes.
“On Sept 1, 2022 the High Court found her guilty and imposed punishment on her for all the charges leveled against her,’’ said Haris.
Hence, he added, the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) First Class conferred upon Rosmah has been revoked effective Sept 12, 2022.
Also revoked was the Keahlian Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (D.S.I.S), which carries the title Datuk, conferred upon former Rural and Regional Development Ministry secretary-general Mohd Arif Ab Rahman.
Other titles conferred to Mohd Arif, who was the Selangor state financial officer before taking up the Federal post - the Darjah Kebesaran Setia - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (S.I.S) Third Class and Darjah Kebesaran Ahli Makhota Selangor (A.M.S) Fourth Class - were also revoked.
The three awards were conferred to Mohd Arif in 2005, 2003 and 2001 respectively.
“He has been charged and found guilty at the Sessions Court for graft.
“On Jan 23, 2021 the High Court upheld the allegation and punishment that was previously decided by the High Court,’’ said Haris.
Sultan Sharafuddin and the Selangor Palace, are known to be very strict about the conduct and reputation of people bestowed state awards, especially those that come with titles.
Former Selangor mentri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo also had his Datuk Seri title, which came with Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) First Class award cancelled and revoked in 2015, after he was found guilty of corruption.
Sultan Sharafuddin also revoked PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Seri Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah award in 2014.
The award, which carried the title Datuk Seri, was conferred upon Anwar in 1992 when he was the then deputy prime minister.
A media statement announcing the revocation said Anwar was stripped of the award for “repeatedly questioning the integrity of the Sultan in dealing with the Selangor mentri besar crisis, and also questioning other issues pertaining to Islam”.
The mentri besar crisis in question was the turn of events following the infamous Kajang Move which saw the then mentri besar the late Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim ousted and replaced by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is currently the International Trade and Industry Minister.
In late 2018, the Negri Sembilan palace revoked Najib’s Darjah Seri Utama Negeri Sembilan, which comes with the title Datuk Seri, conferred on him in 2005, while Rosmah lost her Darjah Seri Paduka Tuanku Jaafar Yang Amat Terpuji, bestowed in 2006.
While it is believed that Mohd Arif has no other Datukship titles left to his name, Najib and Rosmah still have a string of federal titles as well as those received from other states.
