Now, Penang strips Najib of title

GEORGE TOWN: The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak has consented to the revocation of the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN) award, which carries the title of Datuk Seri Utama, conferred on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In a statement yesterday, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Zakuan Zakaria said the award that was conferred on Najib in 2009 had been revoked effective yesterday.

“On Aug 23, the Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence on several corruption charges.

“Based on the conviction and sentence imposed on him, the award which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama is, therefore, revoked and cancelled effective Sept 15,” he said.

On Sept 12, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor revoked the titles of “Datuk Seri” and “Datuk” conferred on Najib in 2004 and 1992, respectively.

Other than Selangor and Penang, Najib still has various titles from several other states.

On Tuesday, the Malaysian Bar issued a statement saying Najib did not deserve a royal pardon as he had only begun to serve his jail sentence.

It said that this was unlike other jailed politicians, like Anwar Ibrahim, Harun Idris and Mokhtar Hashim, who had served a substantial part of their jail sentences before being pardoned and released.

Bar president Karen Cheah said a full pardon at this stage would be perceived as premature as Najib was still facing numerous other charges and would set a dangerous precedent that powerful politicians were above the law or beyond reproach.

On Aug 23, Najib was sent to Kajang Prison after the Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence of 12 years’ jail and RM210mil fine imposed on him for misappropriating RM42mil of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

Najib, 69, is still facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.