HOW the mighty have fallen.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia has on yesterday (June 11) stripped former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Isa Samad’s “Tan Sri” title.
The revocation follows Isa’s conviction on nine corruption charges involving RM3 mil linked to Felda Investment Corp’s acquisition of the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak.
The former FELDA chairman is currently serving a six-year prison sentence at the Sungai Buloh Prison after the Federal Court reinstated his corruption conviction and RM15.45 mil fine on Feb 10 this year. He was previously acquitted by the Court of Appeal in March 2024.
However, the main question that seems to be playing on the lips of local kopitiam customers and keyboard warriors is whether the same actions will be visited upon other VVIPs perceived to have fallen foul of the law.
Examples of such sentiment was in view on the New Straits Times’ Facebook portal which carried the news. The call was for such revocation of titles to be standardised.
Of particular interest were titles conferred upon now incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It was explained that those happened to be state titles, hence are at the discretion of the Malay rulers who conferred them whether to revoke it or otherwise.
However, the crux of the matter is that once the Agong has set a precedent for federal titles, state rulers should automatically follow suit.
It was also pointed out that titles conferred to Najib and his spouse Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor by the Negeri Sembilan royal household had been removed some years back.
Editor’s Note: The Negeri Sembilan palace officially revoked the honorific titles conferred on Najib and Rosmah in October 2018.
The former was stripped of the Darjah Seri Utama Negeri Sembilan (S.P.N.S.) award which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama while his spouse was stripped of the Darjah Seri Paduka Tuanku Ja’afar Yang Amat Terpuji (S.P.T.J.) award that carries the title Datuk Seri.
However, it was pointed out that despite this revocation, Najib (and others who may be affected by such actions) still have a bagful of titles so much so that the latest revocation exercise makes little difference.
The same news on the revocation of Isa’s Tan Sri title was also shared on Malay-language current affairs portal Oh My Media.
To begin with, the move to strip the former UMNO warlord of his title was lauded simply to avoid an embarrassing and awkward moment as one commenter wryly observed: “Surely the prison director can’t be addressing this culprit as Tan Sri”.
It was obvious public sympathy for such wrongdoers are in short supply. One commenter also highlighted the case of high-ranking army general implicated with criminal syndicates.
He, too, should be stripped not just of his titles but also his rank for bringing shame to the armed forces.
Editor’s Note: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested and charged former Malaysian Army Chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his two wives alongside former Armed Forces Chief Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaafar in January this year.
Both high-ranking military figures pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust (CBT).
Interestingly, question was also raised as to why such revocation did NOT extend to current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim since he, too, has been jailed.
It would appear that most commenters are in agreement that seven-term Barisan Nasional (BN) state assemblyman Isa should be removed of his title but the same should apply to all who have served time behind bars, in particular Bossku and PMX.
The removal of Isa’s title is to be applauded. Indeed, to preserve the sanctity of the title and the royal institutions that bestowed them, clear and transparent guidelines should be implemented to avoid insinuations of impropriety or political witch hunts. – June 12, 2026
