Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim could be stripped of his honorary title under a drive to revoke civic awards from recipients convicted of crimes, reports said today.

All recipients of awards from Perak, who were convicted of crimes, including Anwar, will have their titles withdrawn once the state senate meets to decide on the matter, the New Straits Times said.

"The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah ... agreed on the matter in principle," state Chief Minister Tajol Rosli Ghazali was quoted as saying.

Anwar, was given the title "Datuk Seri", the highest rank that can be awarded by the Perak Sultan to a commoner, in 1995.

The Federal Court last month overturned Anwar's conviction and nine-year sentence for sodomy.

But the same court rejected an appeal to further review his corruption conviction, which accused him of abusing power to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Perak royalty is among traditional Malay rulers in nine Malaysian states. The position of king is rotated every five years among the nine rulers.

The nine sultans and governors of four other states give out various honorary titles on their birthdays.

Exceptional achievements

In 2002, the different states gave out 6,314 awards and medals, including those which do not carry any honorific title.

The titles are awarded for exceptional achievements or services to the state and country.

Malaysia's sultans have said they will conduct stringent background checks on potential candidates for titles, after several recipients made newspaper headlines for being arrested over various crimes, including murder.

The Sultan of Pahang revoked the titles from two businessman for "tarnishing the image of the awards" after one was charged with the murder of his nephew and one was allegedly involved in organised crime, the Star said.

The Sultan of Selangor this week suspended six people from using their titles after they were charged with various crimes.