KLANG: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pics) have been stripped of all their Selangor state titles effective yesterday.
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.
The titles had been suspended in May 2019 when the couple was charged in court over different corruption cases.
“He (Najib) has been charged in the High Court over abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.
“The Federal Court had on Aug 23, 2022, upheld the charge and punishment earlier handed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court,’’ added Haris.
He said given the charge and subsequent punishment imposed upon Najib, the titles he received from the state had been revoked.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 levelled against her,’’ said Haris.
Hence, he added, the SPMS First Class conferred upon Rosmah has been confiscated and revoked effective Sept 12, 2022.
Former Rural and Regional Development Ministry secretary-general Mohd Arif Ab Rahman was also stripped of the Keahlian Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (DSIS), which carries the title Datuk.
Other titles conferred on Mohd Arif, who was the Selangor state financial officer before taking up the federal post, the Darjah Kebesaran Setia - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (SIS) Third Class and Darjah Kebesaran Ahli Makhota Selangor (AMS) Fourth Class were also confiscated and revoked.
The three awards were conferred to Mohd Arif in 2005, 2003 and 2001, respectively.
“He has been charged and found guilty in the Sessions Court for graft.
“On Jan 23, 2021, the High Court upheld the allegation and punishment that was previously decided by the Sessions 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 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 came after the infamous “Kajang Move” which saw the then mentri besar, the late Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, ousted and replaced by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, currently the International Trade and Industry Minister.
In late 2018, shortly after the couple was charged in court, 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.
