SHAH ALAM, Dec 4 — Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has rescinded Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's datukship that was awarded to him back in 1992, over the opposition leader's conduct during the state mentri besar crisis.
The Selangor palace said the revocation of the award took effect on November 3, and that Anwar's title was removed because he had repeatedly disputed the Sultan and the royal house over the MB crisis since 2013.
“The decision is based on Anwar’s repeated questioning of the integrity of the Selangor Sultan and royal institution in resolving the Selangor MB crisis, as well as his questioning of issues related to Islam,” the Selangor Sultan's private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said in a statement today.
Anwar retains, however, other datukships awarded to him by states such as Perlis, Perak, Sabah, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Malacca and Pahang.
The statement added that the revocation of Anwar's title was in line with the Selangor Sultan's powers as enshrined in the 1959 state constitution.
"His (Anwar's) behaviour and action is not befitting of someone who deserves to hold this title," Munir added.
During the course of the abortive move to install Anwar’s wife and PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, in place of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, the opposition leader had insisted that it was Pakatan Rakyat’s right to name a sole nominee for the position.
The Sultan had prior to that asked each of three parties in the pact to name at least three candidates to be mentri besar.
Anwar’s contention had led the Selangor palace to rebuke him for “misleading the people”.
Selangor protracted year-long leadership crisis ended in September when the Sultan appointed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali to take over the MB post from his former political rival Khalid.
