The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has reprimanded "rich" individuals who tried to lobby him to bestow them honorifics such as Datuk and Tan Sri.
The king said such titles were not for sale, and that the rich should use their money to help the poor instead.
"In my view, only individuals who have long served the government with merit, and those who brought glory to the nation, are worthy of being awarded.
"Every year, not many pass these criteria. Even though there are those who try to lobby me, they will not be entertained.
"Datuk and Tan Sri titles are not for sale. If there are those with so much money, go do charity, help the poor in need," Sultan Ibrahim said today in a royal address at the Istana Negara in conjunction with his official birthday.
Earlier in his speech, Sultan Ibrahim said he would be embarking on a royal tour of the Federal Territories this month.
“I want to see for myself how the people are living, and to distribute zakat to the poor and needy,” His Majesty added.
Disputed Urban Renewal Act
The tour comes ahead of the government’s plan to introduce the Urban Renewal Act (URA) that will allow easier redevelopment of old and dilapidated housing in urban areas.
However, the proposed legislation has been met with fierce criticism, with Perikatan Nasional claiming that it would create a situation that would further marginalise urban Malays.
There are also criticisms that the law would benefit developers more than the people.
The government has assured that the URA would benefit residents in affected areas, who would be granted new housing of higher value in the same location.
Besides the URA, another issue that plagues the Federal Territories is the long-standing dispute over land in Kampung Baru. - Mkini
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