The Johor Palace revealed Friday that North Pole expeditor Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir, prominent lawyer Hassan Yunos and the current Sultan's brother-in-law Kommander Shaftdean Lufty Rusland were stripped of their titles on June 4, aside from Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
Johor Council of Royal Court secretary Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli said Friday that it was the prerogative of the Sultan of Johor to give or take back titles.
He also said that a few other people have had their titles stripped in the past, but no announcements had been made.
"However, we have to issue a statement now as Chua has made allegations and issued statements.
"We don't want the public to question the matter or even speculate as we want to tell the truth," he said, stressing that no political pressure had led to the stripping of Chua’s titles.
Chua, a former MCA leader and Health Minister, is now a PKR supreme council member.
Abdul Rahim said no one, including the state government, a political party or an individual, had any say in the conferment or withdrawal of the titles as only the Sultan had the power to do so.
"There was no pressure from Umno or any political party, thus he (Chua) cannot put the blame on politics as politicians have no say in this matter," he told a press conference here Friday.
"The Sultan was, is and will be forever be above politics."
Abdul Rahim said that the Sultan conferred the titles of Dato' Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor and Dato' Paduka Mahkota Johor based on three main criteria - loyalty, meticulous service and diligence.
He explained that the withdrawal of the titles were in line with the Sultan's right to exercise his power and right under Article 12 of the Statues and Ordinances of the Most Honourable Order and Article 7 (f) of the Second part of the Johor State Constitution 1895.
"After deliberating on reports against some Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor, the Johor Royal Council advised the Sultan to expel those involved and he has consented to the advice," he said.
He declined to give the reasons the four had had their title stripped.
"I cannot talk about the reasons as it is the Sultan's prerogative.
"However, these four must search their conscience and think about what they did wrong instead of blaming others," he said adding that, the council had a system to monitor the current 120 Datuks from Johor.
Abdul Rahim said the title of Datuk was the most prestigious and only 712 had been given out since its inception in 1886.
Asked about Chua's claim that he was the second Chinese to receive the titles, Abdul Rahim said it was not true.
"The first Chinese recipient was Datuk Tan Hiok Nee in 1886 and, since then, many Chinese have received the titles as the state was built by Malays and Chinese," he said.
Abdul Rahim said he sent Chua a letter addressed to his home in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur on June 4 and followed that up with a phone call on June 8 before issuing another letter and calling him on Thursday.
"He informed me that he would be returning the medals and awards bestowed.
"However, I have given him time as he said he was outstation," he said adding that, Sharifah Mazlina and Hassan had already returned their medals.
*I for one don't think that the sultan was fair for such actions. politics! pfft...
Peace:)
xoxo
Jeffrey James
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