Najib and Rosmah stripped of titles

Negri Sembilan palace revokes Datuk Seri honorific

SEREMBAN: Both Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who are embroiled in legal matters including corruption and money laundering, have been stripped of their Datuk Seri titles by the Negri Sembilan palace.

Former prime minister Najib lost the Darjah Seri Utama Negeri Sembilan conferred on him in 2005, while Rosmah had her Darjah Seri Paduka Tuanku Jaafar Yang Amat Terpuji, bestowed in 2006, revoked.

The Pekan MP’s award carried the title Datuk Seri Utama, while Rosmah’s was Datuk Seri.

State secretary Dr Razali Ab Malik said the decision was reached during a special meeting of the awards, titles and honours committee at Istana Besar Seri Menanti, the palace of state Ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

Dr Razali, who is also state Registrar of Awards, said the decision was made to safeguard the honour and dignity of the Negri Sembilan royal institution.

On Thursday, Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to six charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM6.6bil.

On Sept 20, Najib had also pleaded not guilty at the same court to 25 charges of corruption and money laundering.

On Aug 7, he was slapped with another three counts of money laundering amounting to RM42mil.

Prior to that, he had appeared in court on July 4 to face three charges of criminal breach of trust and one for abuse of power relating to funds involving former 1Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.

On Oct 4, Rosmah pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of money laundering involving about RM7mil at the same court.

She became the first wife of a former Malaysian prime minister to be charged in court.