Sheikh Muszaphar among recipients of Negri state awards

SEREMBAN: The country’s first man in space, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al-Masrie, will be awarded the Darjah Dato' Setia Negri Sembilan (DSNS) in conjunction with Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Ja’afar's 86th birthday today.

He is among 18 people receiving the award, which carries the title Datuk.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar was sent to space aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on Oct 10 last year. The 36-year-old orthopaedic surgeon returned to earth after spending 11 days at the International Space Station.

Also receiving the DSNS are state secretary Datuk Norzam Mohd Nor; state health, science, technology and innovations committee chairman Ismail Taib, who is also Linggi assemblyman; and tourism, unity, culture, arts and heritage and Malay customs committee chairman Mohammad Razi Kail, who is Juasseh MP.

The others are Sg Lui assemblyman Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Puteri Wangsa (Johor) assemblyman Abdul Halim Suleiman, Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Abdul Rahman Abdul Ghani, Armed Forces chief signals officer Brig-Jen Noordin Mohd Yusoff, Energy, Water and Communications deputy secretary-general 1 Dr Mohd Padzil Hashim, dental consultant Dr Philip Ting Chong Sing and Brunsfield Corporation Sdn Bhd group managing director Gan Thian Leong.

Atlan Holdings Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Adam Sani Abdullah, Genting Berhad strategic investment and corporate relations head Justin Leong Ming Loong, Public Bank (Islamic banking) director Mohammad Najeeb Abdullah, Affin Investment Bank managing director (stock brokerage) Saiful Bahri Zainuddin, Seremban Wanita Umno branch head Datin Maimunah Abd Wahab, former Jelebu Umno Youth treasurer Mohammad Caezar Musa and former Sirusa assemblyman Krishnan Sellappan are also among the DSNS recipients.

State legal advisor Ishak Sahari is among the 22 recipients of the Darjah Dato’ Paduka Tuanku Ja’afar (DPTJ) award which also carries the title Datuk.

Among the others are former Thomas Cup winner Ng Boon Bee, Sime Darby chief executive officer (China region) Lu Desheng Louis, Appco Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd deputy president James Iskandar Jaafar Greaves, state Land and Mines director Zaffarudin Sharif, Rural and Regional Development deputy secretary general Md Basar Abd Rahman, state deputy police chief SAC II Abd Manan Mhd Hassan and state development director Mat Ali Hassan;

Foreign Ministry director-general (strategy and policy planning) Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib, Pembinaan Tuah Prestasi managing director Gan Kim Chong, Lace (R.O) Holdings Sdn Bhd chairman Rokiah Omar, Legend Group of Companies chairman K. Durai, Age D’Or Sdn Bhd senior regional manager Ho Yok Kee, Qalam Dinar Ent Sdn Bhd manager Kamarulnizam Mohd Sharip, lawyer Thomas Koh Boon Thye, retired teacher Parameswaran Nair;

Usaha Damai Gas Sdn Bhd managing director Radin Firdaus Radin Lockman, SP&G Insurance Brokers managing director Zakaria Meranun, senior police officer SAC II Ramli Hassan, Adat Perpatih expert Huhamad @ Mahmad Salleh Yasin and state Royal Household Comptroller Zainal Abidin Mokhtar.

District police chief ACP Saiful Azly Kamaruddin is among the 20 recipients of the Darjah Setia Negri Sembilan (DNS) award. Among the others are Col Abdul Halim Othman, Col Adnan Adam, Nagarajan Marie @ Marie Chetty, Prof Dr Abd Majid Mohd Isa, Prof Hassan Basri and Prof Dr Rosnah Baharudin.

Ajaib Kaur Tara Singh is among the 11 recipients of the Justice of Peace award. The others are Datuk Zainal Shamsudin, Datuk Zulkefli Abd Rahman, Datuk Lee Ee Hoe, Datuk Chay Weng Kwong, Sudhir Ranjan Sen Gupta and Nadarajah Krishnapillai.

State narcotics chief Supt R. Ravi Chandran is among 19 recipients of the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih award. Among the others are Datin Jeriah Johan @ Jeriah Mat Shah, Datuk Dr Abdul Fahmi A Karim, Dr Naik Soo Hoo, Tay Lee Looi, Ku Nawawi Ku Hamid, Lt-Col Khalil Mohd Ali, Lt-Col Mohamad Razak Ksmari, Lt-Col Muhammad Fanashim Benson Hashim, Lt-Col Shamsuddin Talib and state Welfare director Mizan Maulud.