Sultan Mizan speaking during the launching of the regional conference. Ahmad Razif is seated second left. —Bernama photo
KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman yesterday declined to comment on speculation concerning the withdrawal of state awards conferred on him, including the title ‘Datuk Seri’ from the palace.
Rumour on the matter had become viral on the social websites since Saturday.
In fact, at three functions attended by Ahmad Razif on Saturday and Sunday, the master of ceremony only mentioned the Menteri Besar as salutation without mentioning his name or title.
The media, however, had not received any official statement concerning the withdrawal of the awards.
Ahmad Razif, when approached by reporters after the opening of a regional conference ‘Persidangan Wakaf Senusantara 2016’ at a hotel here, only said ‘thank you’ before getting into his official car.
The Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin also graced the event.
State Secretary Datuk Osman Muda also declined comment on the matter.
Ahmad Razif was conferred the title Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Terengganu Kehormat (DPMT) which carries the title Datuk in 2012 and Seri Setia Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (SSMZ) which carries the title Datuk Seri in April 2015.
Ahmad Razif, who is also the assemblyman for Seberang Takir, took his oath of office as the Terengganu Menteri Besar replacing Datuk Seri Ahmad Said on May 12, 2014.
Meanwhile in Kuala Lumpur, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, when asked to comment on the speculation, urged everyone to remain calm and not to become emotional on the latest development in Terengganu.
Hishammuddin, who is also a vice-president of Umno, said the matter was still unclear, but he was confident it could be resolved.
“As a former chairman of the Terengganu state Umno liaison body, this is not something that had never happened before.
“What is important is for us is to ensure we reduce anything that can divide us,” he said at a media conference after launching the National Service Training Program 2.0 at the Esplanade, KLCC here yesterday.
Hishammuddin said the focus on this issue now was to ensure that the interest of the state and the Terengganu Umno Liaison Body was placed above individual interest. — Bernama