CNA – Penang has followed in the footsteps of Selangor by revoking a title previously bestowed on former prime minister Najib Razak yesterday, after he started serving a prison sentence for corruption last month.
According to Acting Penang State Secretary Mohd Zakuan Zakaria, Penang Governor Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak agreed for the state government to revoke a title Najib received in 2009 in light of his conviction in the SRC International case.
“Based on his conviction and sentence, his membership as a recipient of the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN) that carries the title of Dato’ Seri Utama is revoked effective on September 15, 2022,” Mohd Zakuan said in a statement.
The revocation was in accordance with the governor’s powers under the state’s constitution and regulations in the state’s awards statute, he added.
On September 12, Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah stripped titles bestowed to Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor.
Selangor State Secretary Haris Kasim said the removal of the titles was in line with the Selangor ruler’s prerogative to do so under the state constitution and awards statute.
Najib was conferred the award which carries the Dato’ title in 1992, and later another award that carries the Dato’ Seri title in 2004.
Najib and Rosmah still have several titles from other states, including Pahang and Melaka, according to Malaysian media.
On August 23, the Federal Court dismissed Najib’s appeal to overturn a 12-year-jail term and MYR210 million (USD46 million) fine over seven charges in the case involving funds from SRC International, a former unit of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
