RPK died last night in the UK at the age of 74.
The move by His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, to warn recipients of federal awards they would be stripped of their titles if they were involved in wrongdoings is necessary to maintain the status and dignity of the Istana Negara.
This was one of the final issues addressed by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin in a video posted on the Malaysia Today Facebook account two days ago.
He described His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim’s warning as a firm action that must be enforced.
“In the 1970s, there was a ‘joke’ (among prisoners) when the prison director made a speech (salutation) in front of the inmates, he would say, ‘Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datuk, Tuan Haji and all prisoners’.
“This was because many people with titles like Datuk or Tan Sri ended up in prison for crimes, not just Malays but also Chinese and others who were imprisoned for corruption or abuse of power,” he said.
In his final post, Raja Petra, the operator of the Malaysia Today website, said the act of withdrawing such titles should be implemented because those who commit crimes and receive punishment do not deserve to retain such honours.
“If you are imprisoned, it is appropriate to have your titles revoked because you were awarded these honours for services to the country and the nation.
“But once you commit a crime that is considered disgraceful for someone with such a title, you are no longer deserving of it,” he said.
He said individuals who lose their honours will not only face embarrassment but also public criticism and scrutiny.
On Sept 7, during the conferment of awards, medals and honours, Sultan Ibrahim warned that he would withdraw the federal awards, medals and honours of recipients who commit crimes, tarnish the country’s image, or if punished by the courts.
His Majesty had said they had been selected for the awards and honours and therefore, should be honest and trustworthy to the government, mind their behaviour and not be involved in corrupt activities and crime.
Controversial blogger Raja Petra died last night in the United Kingdom at the age of 74.
His death was confirmed by his brother, Raja Idris, this morning.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has conveyed his condolences to the family of Raja Petra in a Facebook post today.
“Condolences to the family of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, also known as RPK, who was reported to have passed away last night in Manchester, United Kingdom. I am deeply saddened and pray that his soul is granted forgiveness by Allah SWT and that his family is granted strength and resilience, Insya-Allah,” said Anwar.
Born on September 27, 1950, in Surrey, England, the late Raja Petra had studied at Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar and Victoria Institution, according to Bernama.
He founded the website Malaysia Today, which built a huge following by publishing political conspiracy theories about the political class.
He was survived by a wife, five children and two grandkids.
Earlier, Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua shared his reflections on the life and legacy of Raja Petra, calling him an “icon of an era” in Malaysian politics.
“I was quite shocked when I heard the news. I hadn’t met him in years since he moved to the United Kingdom.
“We hardly had the opportunity to communicate after that, except during a trip I made to London years ago,” he told the ‘New Straits Times’.
Tian Chua and Raja Petra’s connection dates back to the early days of Reformasi when the digital revolution was just beginning to shape Malaysian politics.
“He was an icon at the time when we started embracing the Internet and social media as political tools,” said Tian Chua, referring to Raja Petra’s prolific presence online.
“He was one of the pioneers. Back then, we didn’t have the advancement of information technology, but as it grew, so did his influence.”
Chua recalled their shared experiences, including their arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2001.
“We were detained together during Reformasi. We didn’t share the same cell, but we were held in adjacent cells.
“We weren’t allowed to speak to each other during detainment.
“I couldn’t see him, but when I walked by and the door was slightly open, I’d catch a glimpse of him.”
He reminisced further about the early days of their activism when they both played distinct roles in the formation of PKR.
“I was more on the action side (campaigning outdoors), while he handled the social media and propaganda.
“We got into trouble together many times because we were both very vocal.
“We didn’t always agree (on something), of course. Sometimes we’d argue, but that was part of our relationship.
“He was critical of PKR at times, and very vocal about it. But we respected each other because, in the end, we both believed deeply in what we were doing.”
Chua also touched on Raja Petra’s polarising nature.
“He was always unpredictable, changing sides frequently, but he never failed to stay visible. One day he was attacking one party, the next he was defending another.
“He could be ultra-liberal in one article and then sound conservative in the next. His political stance shifted. But the point is what he did in keeping the discussions alive.
“He could be a fierce critic of (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim one day and a supporter the next.
“He could praise (Datuk Seri ) Najib Razak and then attack him over the 1MDB scandal. People often tried to figure out which side he was on, but that was never the point. The man created debate for the sake of debate.”
Despite the inconsistency, Chua said, Raja Petra’s voice on the online platform was undeniably loud and clear.
“He was a central figure in this era of new media, and his presence was impossible to ignore. Even when his views shifted, his voice was always there, loud and clear.
“Raja Petra made sure you couldn’t ignore him, and that’s why he’ll be remembered.”