SHAH ALAM: SULTAN of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has stripped Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of his datukship, effective Nov 3.
The sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, in a press statement yesterday, said the withdrawal of the title conferred on the opposition leader in 1992 was based on Anwar’s actions and behaviour since the end of last year.
The ruler reached the decision to strip Anwar’s title after consulting with the Council of the Royal Court on Nov 3.
Anwar was notified about the decision a few days after the meeting was held.
Anwar, Munir said, had often questioned the sultan and the Rulers Institution’s authority and power in resolving the Selangor menteri besar crisis, as well as matters involving Islam, in which the ruler has executive power as the head of Islam in the state.
He said the decision was made as stipulated in the Laws of the Constitution of Selangor, 1959 (Undang Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Selangor).
“His actions and behaviour no longer befit him to hold the title,” he said.
Munir, when contacted by the New Straits Times, said Anwar had yet to respond to the letter notifying him of the withdrawal of the title.
“We have not received any feedback from Anwar.
“Following the withdrawal, he has to return the Seri Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) medal to the state secretary’s office,” he said, adding that no deadline was given to Anwar to do so.
Also made available to reporters yesterday was a page from the Selangor government gazette, published on Nov 20, which read: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article XXX1X of the Laws of the Constitution of Selangor, 1959, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, after consultation with the Dewan Di-Raja, has assented that the title of Seri Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, which was conferred on Anwar Ibrahim of 11, Jalan 3/61 Bukit Segambut, 51200 Kuala Lumpur be withdrawn with effect from Nov 3, 2014.”
Anwar, in a statement issued a few hours later, said he was grateful to be awarded the SSSA, which carries the title “Datuk Seri”.
“The title was conferred by the late Sultan of Selangor Almarhum Tuanku Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, without me requesting or asking for it.
“And I am grateful for the deeds (ihsan) by the late sultan.
“I will continue to uphold the Federal Constitution, constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.”
Anwar, who is also PKR de facto leader, said he would continue his service as Selangor government economic adviser.
Towards the conclusion of the MB crisis in September, the palace rebuked Anwar for misleading the people by claiming the practice of submitting only one name for the MB post had been the convention since independence.
Responding to Anwar’s statement, Munir said the statement was misleading and could tarnish the image of the Selangor ruler.
Anwar holds datukship titles from Perlis, Perak, Sabah, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Malacca and Pahang. Additional reporting by Firdaous Fadzil