Perak honours for sportsmen

Sidek: Heads the list withthe Datuk Seri award

IPOH: Two former national sportsmen will have their accomplishments recognised today when they receive the Datukship in conjunction with Sultan Azlan Shah’s 79th birthday. 

Former international hockey player Poon Fook Loke, who played forward in the World Cup Hockey tournament in 1975, will receive the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP), which carries the title “Datuk”. 

Also receiving the DPMP is former badminton great Tan Yee Khan, who clinched the All-England men's doubles title twice in 1965 and 1966 with his partner Ng Boon Bee. 

Koo Kien Keat, one-half of the All-England men's doubles winners this year (with partner Tan Boon Heong), will also be rewarded for his recent achievement with the Darjah Ahli Mahkota Perak (AMP) award. 

Heading the list of 886 recipients this year is Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, who will receive the Darjah Seri Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini (SPCM), which carries the “Datuk Seri” title. 

Navy chief Laksamana Datuk Ramlan Mohamed Ali also receives the “Datuk Seri” title with the Darjah Seri Panglima Taming Sari (SPTS). 

The other four to receive similar titles (Datuk Seri) under the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) award are Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said, Forestry Department director-general Datuk Azhar Muda, Royal Household Controller Raja Datuk Mansur Raja Razman and Bank Simpanan Nasional chairman Datuk Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi. 

The Darjah Datuk Paduka Cura Si Manja Kina (DPCM), which carries the “Datuk” title, will go to three recipients this year – Perak State Secretary Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim, Perak Financial Officer Datuk Jamalludin Al Amini Ahmad, and New Straits Times (M) Bhd deputy chairman Datuk Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan. 

Among the nine recipients of the Darjah Datuk Pahlawan Taming Sari (DPTS) award, which also carries the “Datuk” title, are Royal Malaysian Army Engineering Corps chief Brig-Jen Abdul Nasser Ahmad, Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Centre director Laksamana Pertama Mohd Rashid Harun and Royal Malaysian Navy Laksamana Pertama Amzah Sulaiman. 

Aside from sports heroes Tan and Poon, this year’s DPMP award will also go to 38 other recipients. 

The group includes four state assemblymen – Mohd Jafri Mohd Yunus of Kubu Gajah, Zaili Cha of Selinsing, Che Ri Md Daud of Bota and Datuk Tajuddin Abd Rahman of Kampung Gajah. 

Senator Gooi Hoe Hin, former political secretary to Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, also receives the DPMP.  

The group includes Malaysian ambassadors Datuk M. Santhananaban (South Korea) and Jamaiyah Mohamed Yusof (Senegal), who was appointed to her position on Jan 22. 

The others include Hospital Bahagia director Dr Suarn Singh, former Pasir Pinji assemblyman Chan Kam, Ipoh Timur MCA division deputy chief Thong Fah Chong, Grik Barisan Nasional secretary Tajudin Harif and Parit Buntar MCA chairman Yeoh Bak Hai. 

Among the media people who received AMP awards are RTM cameraman Lam Pun Ying and Bernama Ipoh bureau chief Mohamad Zabidi Mohd Osman.