Sultan: Time to be prudent

PEKAN: Sultan Ahmad Shah has called on the people to make adjustments to cope with the current economic scenario.

He said that in times like this, prudence should be practised. “However, it is also important to spend some money so it can help generate the economy,” the Sultan of Pahang said this in his speech at the investiture ceremony held in conjunction with his 78th birthday celebrations at Istana Abu Bakar here yesterday.

Also present were Sultanah Pahang Sultanah Kalsom, Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, state exco members and other dignitaries.

The Sultan said he expected the state government to continue to implement development projects and extend the social safety net for the less fortunate.

He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for helping to ensure that projects in Pahang were implemented accordingly.

Sultan Ahmad Shah also conferred titles and awards to 74 recipients led by his son, Tengku Ariff Temenggong Pahang Tengku Fahd Mu’adzam, who was bestowed the Darjah Kerabat Sri Indera Mahkota Pahang Yang Amat Dihormati (DK)(II).

Other recipients included Cabinet ministers Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Felda group chairman Tan Sri Yusoff Nor, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar and Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan. They were awarded the Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang, which carries the title Datuk Seri.

Singer Sheila Majid was among 33 people who received the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang, which carries the title Datuk.