Chua Jui Meng losing two datukship awards from the Johor palace nothing to do with politic ?

The Johor Royal Council has confirmed that it has stripped PKR supreme council member Chua Jui Meng of his two 'datuk' titles, but denied that it was due to political pressure.

Its secretary Abdul Rahim Ramli said that the Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar's jurisdiction to grant or revoke such titles "goes beyond politics".

"There was no political pressure to award or take back any titles. The Sultan of Johor has nothing to do with politics. Politicians do not have a say in this," he said at a press conference at the royal palace today.

Johor Umno has also denied any involvement in Chua Jui Meng losing two datukship awards from the Johor palace.

"The palace's decision is not connected to the party," said state information chief Samsol Bahari Jamali.

"Such allegations are baseless, as it is not Johor Umno's way in meddling with palace matters," he said here today, when contacted for comment on rumours that Umno had a hand in the matter.

Samsol reminded Chua not to politicise palace matters, especially as he is also an anak Johor.

Apart from Chua, three more people have confirmed lost their titles conferred by the Johor Sultan.

They are the current Sultan's brother-in-law Kommander Shaftdean Lufty Rusland, lawyer Hassan Yunos and North Pole explorer Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir.

The palace said in the past a few other people had been "quietly" stripped of their titles.

But it decided to announce the latest names because of insinuations that Chua Jui Meng lost his because of political interference.

"However, we have to issue a statement now as Chua has made allegations and issued statements.

"We don't want the public to question the matter or even speculate as we want to tell the truth," he said, stressing that no political pressure had led to the stripping of Chua’s titles.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will seek an audience with Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar over the two 'datuk' titles that were stripped from former health minister Chua Jui Meng.

He was surprised at the revocation of the titles, but said Chua had taken the news calmly and was resilient.