Samy Vellu heads awards list for Federal Territories Day

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will head the list of recipients of awards and medals to be conferred in conjunction with Federal Territories Day today.

Samy Vellu was named special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia in December 2010 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after the former stepped down as MIC president.

It was a post he held for 31 years.

He has been conferred the Darjah Seri Utama Mahkota Wilayah, which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama.

Two others who will receive the award are Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor president Tan Sri Cheng Heng Jem and Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

Inspector-general of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, who was listed as an award recipient last year but was absent from the ceremony, is also expected to receive the same award at the ceremony today.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah will confer the awards at the new Istana Negara in Jalan Duta.

Eight individuals, including Kuala Lumpur Datuk Bandar Datuk Ahmad Phesal Taib, former mayor Datuk Ruslin Hasan and Umno Federal Territories state liaison secretary Datuk Wira Syed Ali Abbas Alhabshee, will receive the Darjah Seri Mahkota Wilayah, which carries the title Datuk Seri.

Among the 41 others who will be conferred the title Datuk under the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah award are MCA Labuan division chief Chin Hong Vui, MCA Federal Territories deputy treasurer Tey Kock Yew, SP Setia Berhad executive vice president Ong Kek Seng and local celebrity Aznil Nawawi, who is also a 1Malaysia health ambassador.

Another 231 persons have also been listed for various medals under the Johan Mahkota Wilayah (JMW), Kesatria Mahkota Wilayah (KMW), Ahli Mahkota Wilayah (AMW) and Pangkuan Mahkota Wilayah (PPW) categories.

They include MCA Wangsa Maju division vice president Lim Lek Chai (JMW), MCA Seputeh division vice president Foong Tak Chu (KMW), MCA Bukit Bintang division secretary Lim Thiam Eng (AMW), MCA Lembah Pantai division committee member Ng Choong (PPW) and MCA Ikan Emas branch member Wong Hong Fan (PPW).