The Perak palace has not interfered in the termination of businessman Koon Yew Yin’s appointment as member of the Perak State Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), said Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

He said the decision to terminate Koon’s appointment was his alone, based on his discretion as menteri besar to propose personalities to be appointed to the council.

Ahmad Faizal said the decision was made following Koon’s allegation about the late Sultan Azlan Shah in connection with corrupt practices in conferring Perak state awards in the early years of his rule as Perak Sultan.

“The Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah is not in any way involved directly or indirectly with the decision to not continue with Koon’s appointment.

“As former chief judge and the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the late Sultan Azlan Shah has always been respected by people of all levels of society as a ruler of the people and left a huge legacy in the development of Perak and the nation,” he said in a statement in Ipoh today.

Earlier, Koon in his posting on Facebook uploaded his status that the Sultan of Perak had terminated his appointment after he posted an article concerning the late Sultan Azlan Shah.

Ahmad Faizal said as an administration which is steadfast in defending the Federal Constitution and the Institution of the Malay Rulers, the state government under Pakatan Harapan viewed with seriousness any act which insulted the credibility and image of the royal institution.

“I find Koon’s actions to smear the good name of the late Sultan Azlan and the institution of the Perak Sultanate unacceptable and cannot be defended.

“It is made worse by Koon uploading his status on the social media with implies that there is no valid basis for the Sultan of Perak to try to interfere with his appointment as member of SEAC," he said.

- Bernama