Johor ruler revokes awards of polar adventurer, two others

 (The Malaysian Insider)KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The Johor palace revealed today that the state Ruler has also revoked awards from polar adventurer Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir and two others, including his brother-in-law, apart from Datuk Chua Jui Meng.

Johor Council of Royal Court secretary Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli said today the Ruler had ordered the revocation of awards given to Sharifah Mazlina, Commander Shaftdean Lufty Rusland, who is married to the Sultan’s sister, Tunku Muna Najiah Sultan Iskandar, senior lawyer Hassan Yunos and Chua on June 4.

Abdul Rahim said the revocation of the awards from the state palace is the prerogative of the Ruler, adding the Ruler was above politics and said the issue should not be politicised.

However, he did not offer an explanation as to why the awards were revoked.

"There was no pressure from Umno or any political party, thus he (Chua) cannot put the blame on politics as politicians have no say in this matter," he said, adding the Ruler conferred the titles of Dato' Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor and Dato' Paduka Mahkota Johor based on three main criteria - loyalty, meticulous service and diligence.

He explained that the withdrawal of the titles were in line with the Sultan's right to exercise his power and right under Article 12 of the Statues and Ordinances of the Most Honourable Order and Article 7 (f) of the Second part of the Johor State Constitution 1895.

"After deliberating on reports against some Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor, the Johor Royal Council advised the Sultan to expel those involved and he has consented to the advice," he said.

"I cannot talk about the reasons as it is the Sultan's prerogative. However, these four must search their conscience and think about what they did wrong instead of blaming others," he said adding that Sharifah Mazlina and Hassan had already returned their medals.

He added that since royal awards were issued from 1886 until now, only 712 individuals have been given the awards and only 120 are still alive.

Abdul Rahim said he sent a letter dated June 4, 2010 on the revocation of the Johor royal awards to Chua's home in Damansara here and had called the politician on two occasions, June 8 and yesterday.

The former MCA leader and Health Minister, who is now a PKR supreme council member, was stripped of the Datuk Seri Paduka Mahkota Johor and Datuk Paduka Mahkota Johor titles effective that day.

Chua (picture top) said he has yet to receive official notification of the revocation but has been asked by telephone to return the awards which were given by Sultan Iskandar, who died earlier this year.

 Sharifah Mazlina (picture left) is the first Asian woman to complete the Pole-to-Pole mission between 2004 and 2007. In 2004, she became the first Asian woman to reach the South Pole and cross the Antarctica continent alone. She subsequently became the first Malaysian to reach the North Pole in 2007.
On December 30, 2004, the Johor-born succeeded to ski-sail solo 1,110 km across Antarctica in 22 days, 2 days shorter than the previous record-holder. She then left for Norway on April 3 2007 to start her next adventure, and reached the North Pole on April 17. She had been invited to join an international expedition to Greenland in 2011, an honour that's only given to those who have completed tours to both North and South Pole.

The 45-year-old Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) lecturer graduated with Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Universiti Putra Malaysia and a Masters’s Degree in Education (Psychology) from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She received her Setia Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ) from the late Sultan Iskandar in 2006.

Shaftdean received the Seri Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ) on August 20, 2009 and is an Royal Malaysian Navy tactical officer with Squadron 501.

The former chief instructor of the Naval Air Wing and Tunku Muna have four children - Putra Wan Iskandar ‘Abdu’r Rahman Uwais Siraj ud-din, Putri Wan Zanariah Imanina Munawarrah Nora Iskandariah and twins Putra Wan Muhammad Umayr Sharaf ud-din and Putri Wan Najiah Umayra Munawarrah.