“We will issue a statement as soon as we have ascertained the awards have been returned,” said the Selangor Sultan’s private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani when met by reporters after the investiture ceremony in conjunction with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s 72nd birthday at Istana Alam Shah, here, today.
The PPBM chairman was the recipient of two medals of honour from the then Selangor Sultan in 1978 and 2003. One of them was the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) (First Class).
It was reported that Mahathir had returned the two awards last Thursday, a move believed to be related to the palace’s outrage over his remarks on the Bugis community.
Mahathir’s wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali had also reportedly followed suit and returned her state awards to Selangor.
Commenting on the issue, Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said the issue of returning the state awards was between Mahathir, Siti Hasmah and the palace, and the state government was not involved in the matter.
On the statement made by DAP member Zaid Ibrahim against the Selangor Sultan which was deemed seditious by many quarters, Azmin said the palace had reprimanded Zaid over his remarks.
“I think he must be responsible for what he had said,” he added.