Johor Sultan wants meeting with MACC over title purchasing attempt

PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar wants a meeting with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a bribery attempt by an unnamed agent to purchase a "Tan Sri" title.
The state ruler, in a Facebook posting on Saturday, said he was ready to reveal the culprit behind his recent statement that a middle man had once attempted to pay him RM2 million for the federal title.
"I want the MACC to seek an audience with me as soon as possible so that this matter can be investigated," he said.
Sultan Ibrahim said the individual had offered the bribe in an attempt for the ruler to suggest a name to the Chief Secretary of Malaysia for the title that is to be awarded by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"This is Johor, we have pride. You can't buy awards and titles with money," he said.
Sultan Ibrahim first disclosed of the attempt to bribe him in a recent interview with a local English daily, disclosing that the agent had approached him, supposedly believing that the Sultan had a quota for the Tan Sri honourific for sale.
"I told the agent, who I do not wish to name because it would be embarrassing, to get lost. I do not sell titles," he had said.
He was also not amused by how the titles are being awarded too generously in the country, noting how titles from the Johor palace are the most difficult to obtain, with up to four times of vetting for the candidates.
Only three individuals were conferred the "Datuk" title on his official birthday celebration on March 23.