An Umno state assemblyperson in Johor has urged the authorities to reveal the royal households which are allegedly involved in bestowing honorific titles in exchange for money.
According to Tengku Putra Haron Aminnurashid, the public deserved to know the details of those who managed to obtain titles in this manner.
“… And which culprit or royal household is responsible for this gross miscarriage of the country's highest honours,” said the Kempas assemblyperson in a blog posting titled “Reveal the royal culprit”.
Tengku Putra said honorific titles should be reserved for those who have served the country with honours and not sold to the highest bidder.
“Many have died and were maimed in the line of duty to defend this country and have medals less befitting of their deeds pinned on their coffins.
“It therefore disgusts me to think that these non-deserving characters who perhaps would be the first to flee the country in desperate times can flaunt their chested medals just by corrupting royalty,” he added.
Tengku Putra urged that those who have been found to have purchased their titles, be stripped of them with immediate effect.
“While the royal recommender or receiver of the bribe should be revealed.
“The persons may have immunity from conviction or be granted a pardon. But the people must see them for who they really are.
“The country's honours must never be put to the bid lest it would diminish the very dignity of our 'Negaraku Initiative',” he said.
Tengku Putra's posting comes in the wake of a “Tan Sri” being arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to recommend his name to the Chief Secretary of the government for a honorific title.
The 54-year-old businessman was detained after the sultan highlighted the issue.
Tengku Putra, who expressed shock over the recent expose, said: “I asked myself how one can have the gall to approach HRH the sultan of Johor and make the offer.”
“What drove him to it and what made him feel comfortable enough to do it? Well the buck had to stop somewhere, and this particular 'Tan Sri' dialled the wrong number.
“The purchase and sale of honorific titles from states have been widely known as an 'open secret'. I offer no prizes for the right answer to one most notorious in that respect,” he added.
However, Tengku Putra said until recently, there was nothing to suggest that federal titles too were being compromised.
“It is interesting to observe the revelations by the accused 'Tan Sri' who in recent years have allegedly procured and profited from the sales and purchases of these titles.
“Yes, it has also been revealed that he was paid a lot more than he offered to the recommender of such titles perhaps irking the latter even more after its discovery,” he added.
