KUALA LUMPUR -  Barely 72 hours after he was transferred from his post at short notice, the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government was yesterday ordered by the palace to reinstate Datuk Jamry Sury as state Religious Department director.

Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah's private secretary Datuk Abd Rahim Mohamad Nor's statement read:

By order of the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, the Raja Muda Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, in the name of Perak Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council, directs Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to seek an audience with the Raja Muda to explain the transfer of Datuk Jamry Sury.

Mohammad Nizar was informed that Jamry, as state Religious Department director, also held the position of secretary of the Perak Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council (MAIAMP), whose appointment was made with the ruler's consent.

Islamic issues, as well as bodies and agencies concerned with Islam, are within the Sultan's direct purview.
It is, therefore, the Sultan's understanding that the menteri besar is obliged to seek an audience with the Sultan and the Raja Muda to obtain their consent before taking any steps in relation to Islamic affairs or Islamic bodies and agencies.

This includes the issue of appointments, placements and transfers of officers and staff who manage Islamic affairs, what more those who hold prominent and important positions.

The working relations which honour the Sultan are a convention and work culture which had always been adhered to by every menteri besar.

The Raja Muda wishes to issue a reminder that a relationship which had facilitated this understanding had to be honoured at all times.

Any act committed without the approval of the Sultan and the Raja Muda is regarded as having ignored their respective positions as the head of Islamic affairs and the head of MAIAMP.

At the same time, the Raja Muda has conveyed the advice and views of the Sultan that a head of government in carrying out an act, must be fair by complying with procedure and administrative decorum based on existing rules and laws.

The Sultan is of the view that the stability of an administration and government is based on compliance with set guidelines and procedure.

The Sultan places great emphasis on harmonious work relations between administrators and political leaders in Perak for the sake of his subjects' well-being.

It is the Sultan's opinion that his government should run a fair and just administration to ensure that none of his subjects feel victimised, exploited or that they had been slandered by those in authority.

Before a decision is made or punishment imposed, the correct process and procedure must first be complied with.

The principle of natural justice has to be respected so that anyone who has been punished should be given an opportunity to defend and explain himself in order that the matter be given due and just consideration.

The Raja Muda of Perak has, therefore, conveyed the opinion and views of the Sultan that the immediate transfer imposed on Jamry be withdrawn.

In the event that Jamry had breached any rules or committed any offence as regards the administration, the government is required to submit the matter formally to the Sultan for him to make a decree on the necessary legal process before any final decision is made.