Malacca defers awards event

MALACCA: The list of 887 recipients of state awards and honours was released yesterday but the awards ceremony in conjunction with the 67th birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Tun Khalil Yaakob has been deferred to Nov 14 and 16. 

The state government agreed to defer the celebration as it coincided with the fasting month, Datuk Abdul Karim Sulaiman, state Information, Multimedia, Science and Technology committee chairman, said in a statement. 

Human Resources Minister Datuk Wira Dr Fong Chan Onn, Kok Lanas state assemblyman Datuk Annuar Musa, and Putrajaya MP Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor head the list, receiving the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM) award, which carries the title “Datuk Seri”.  

State secretary Ismail Salleh, state assembly speaker Datuk Momin Abdul Aziz, Former Elected Representative Council (Mubarak) president Datuk Abdul Razak Alias and businessman Datuk Syed Ali Abbas Alhabshee were bestowed the Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka (DCSM), which carries the title “Datuk Wira.”  

A total of 50 people received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), which carries the title “ Datuk”. 

Among them are state police chief SAC 1 Ayob Mohamed, state financial officer Kamarul Zaman Md Isa, state legal advisor Zauyah Be T. Loth Khan, Election Commission secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor, Aziyah Bahaudin from the Finance Ministry, and developer Yap Pit Kian. 

Politicians who were made Datuks were Puteri Umno chief Noraini Ahmad, Kuala Linggi state assemblyman Abd Rahman Palit, Tangga Batu MP Idris Haron, Paya Rumput state assemblyman Tahir Hassan and Kelantan's Kuala Krai MP Mohamed Razali Che Mamat.  

Other recipients of Datukship were Juita Viden Sdn Bhd chairman Foo Ah Kow, Taiwanese investor Chen Chin Kun, managing director of Cubic Electronics Goh Seng Chong, Sepang International Circuit general manager Ahmad Mustafa, state customs director Md Hassim Pardi, Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Dr F. C. Durshan, Dr Kumar Khanna from Southern Hospital and Syed Hisham Syed Wazir, managing director of Edaran Otomobil Nasional (EON). 

State health director Dr Noraini Baba and her husband, Ismail Lajen, chief operating officer of Malacca State Investment Centre were conferred the Darjah Seri Melaka (DSM). 

A total of 340 people received the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK).  

Among them were: Treasurer-general of NUTP Harry Tan, court interpreter Ng Lum and Alor Gajah Puteri secretary Azniza Ahmad Khuzairi. 

Among the pressmen who received awards were Brendan Pereira, group editor of New Straits Times who was conferred the DSM; Ab Rahim Lajis, a sub-editor from Utusan Malaysia, and Daud Awang bureau chief of Berita Harian here, who both received the BCM; Zainun Sulaiman, a senior reporter from RTM received the Bintang Khidmat Terpuji while Lee Cheng Chuen from China Press and Lew Kim Hen from Sin Chew Daily were awarded the PJK.