KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 15): After Selangor, Penang has now revoked the honorific title it had conferred upon former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In a statement, Penang deputy state secretary (development) Zakuan Zakaria said that Penang governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak has agreed to revoke the title for Najib, who has been imprisoned, following the apex court's decision to uphold on Aug 23 the ex-prime minister’s conviction and sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
"Based on the conviction and sentence that have been handed down against Najib, his membership as a holder of Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN), which carries the title of Dato' Seri Utama, is cancelled and revoked with effect from Sept 15, 2022," Zakuan said.
The title was awarded in 2009.
The withdrawal of the title was in line with the governor's prerogative according to Articles 6 and 8 of the Penang state constitution and related rules on state awards, said Zakuan.
On Monday (Sept 12), Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah revoked titles awarded to Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
In a statement, Selangor state secretary Datuk Haris Kasim said that the titles were withdrawn with immediate effect, following the convictions of Najib and Rosmah in their separate court cases.
Najib's title of Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) first class, which carries the title of Datuk Seri, was awarded in 2004, following his title of Dato' Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) that carries the title of Datuk, which was awarded in 1992.
Rosmah's title of Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) first class, which gave her the title of Datin Paduka Seri, was awarded in 2005.
The Negeri Sembilan palace also revoked titles for Najib and Rosmah in 2018.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence.
On July 28, 2020, the Pekan Member of Parliament was found guilty of all seven charges — one count of abuse of power with regard to Retirement Fund Inc's (KWAP) RM4 billion loans to SRC, and three counts each of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power with regard to RM42 million of SRC funds.
The Court of Appeal on Dec 8, 2021 upheld the High Court's decision.
Meanwhile, on Sept 1, Rosmah was found guilty of all three counts of graft in the solar hybrid graft trial involving 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
She was sentenced to 10 years' jail and fined RM970 million. She is appealing against this decision, and the Court of Appeal has set Oct 5 for case management.