Revocation of State Award for Ekhwan Toriman
The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, has taken a decisive step to preserve the honour and respect for the Negeri Sembilan royal institution by revoking a state award that carries the "Datuk" title awarded to former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) vice-chancellor Ekhwan Toriman.
Background
Ekhwan, who resigned from his post as UKM vice-chancellor last week, had been conferred the Darjah Setia Bakti Negeri Sembilan in January 2019. However, his reputation has been tarnished by allegations of abuse of power and misappropriation of funds, which surfaced on social media.
Revocation of the Award
The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan has commanded that the Darjah Setia Bakti Negeri Sembilan awarded to Ekhwan be revoked effective immediately. According to state secretary Zafir Ibrahim, this decision is aimed at preserving the honour and respect for the Negeri Sembilan royal institution.
Investigation into Allegations
Ekhwan has lodged police reports over the allegations, and police have recorded the statements of top officials from the public university in its investigation. The case is being probed under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities.
Resignation of Ekhwan
In his resignation letter submitted to higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, Ekhwan said he was leaving the post so that he could "focus on other matters".
Conclusion
The revocation of the state award is a significant move to address the concerns surrounding Ekhwan’s tenure as UKM vice-chancellor. The investigation into the allegations will continue to shed light on the facts, and it is essential for all parties involved to cooperate fully to ensure the integrity of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was Ekhwan’s state award revoked?
A: The award was revoked to preserve the honour and respect for the Negeri Sembilan royal institution.
Q: What are the allegations against Ekhwan?
A: Ekhwan is accused of committing abuse of power and misappropriation of funds as the UKM vice-chancellor.
Q: What is the current status of the investigation?
A: The case is being probed under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities.