Chua: I will surrender my medals but not my fight
By Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: The Johor palace has asked Chua Jui Ming to return all three medals conferred on him by the late Sultan of Johor despite initially revoking only two.
Chua was last week stripped of his “datuk” and “datuk seri” titles and ordered to return both medals to the palace. No reason was given for this revocation, although speculation was rife that Umno Johor had a hand in the palace’s decision. Umno Johor has denied these allegations.
At a press conference today, Chua said that he had notified the secretary to the Royal Court of Johor, Abdul Rahim Ramli, that he had a third medal from Johor – the Pingat Ismail Sultan (PIS).
“I asked him whether the palace wanted that as well and he immediately said yes,” Chua said. “So I will make arrangements to send the medals back to the palace as soon as possible. And I am returning them open-heartedly.”
When asked when he would be returning them, he said that there was no urgency to do so.
“I have already advised Rahim that all he needs to do is degazette the two titles and the medals will become mere metal as there will be no honours attached to it. But I will return them, not to worry.”
However, PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah, who was also present, questioned Rahim’s authority in demanding that the third medal be returned.
“I am surprised that he was able to make such a decision on the spot without first referring to the palace,” he said. “So who is really wielding the power here? Who is behind the palace’s decision?”
The former health minister, who joined PKR last July, will retain his “datukship” as he had been conferred state awards by Pahang and Selangor, which carry the same title.
