Malacca honours 1,230

MALACCA: Five people lead Malacca’s honours list, with 1,230 receiving awards in conjunction with the 71st birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob today.

They are Health Minister and MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Chief Secretary to the Gover­nment Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, Agriculture and Agro-Based Indus­tries Minister Datuk Noh Omar, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili and Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

They will be conferred the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM), which carries the title Datuk Seri.

Ten people will be receiving their Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka, which carries the title Datuk Wira.

They are Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, the Army’s 3rd Division chief Maj-Gen Datuk Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi, Malaysian Red Crescent Society vice-chairman Datuk Dr Bahari Abu Mansor and Malacca State Legislative speaker Datuk Othman Muhamad.

Among the 75 recipients of the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), which carries the title Datuk, are state exco member R. Perumal, Machap state assemblyman Lai Meng Chong, Rembia state assemblywoman Norpipah Abdol, Malacca Historic City mayor Yusof Jantan, State Legal Advisor Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid, AmIslamic Bank CEO Mahdi Murad and State deputy Chief Police Officer Kamal Pasha Jamal.

Others being conferred the DMSM are High Court judge Lau Bee Lan, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Sikh Consultative Council vice-chairman Bishop S. Batumalai, Putra Specialist Hospital pediatrician Dr Ng Kock Chai, Ho Hup Construction chief operating officer Woo Thin Choy and Knight Capital Sdn Bhd deputy chairman Datuk Rashpal Singh.

A total of 68 others will be receiving their Darjah Seri Melaka award (DSM), while 48 will be conferred the Jaksa Pendamai (JP).

Among the journalists getting awards are Berita Harian group editor Mior Kamarulbaid Shaid who is getting the DMSM, and Utusan Malaysia assistant chief editor Zaini Hassan who will receive the Bintang Cemerlang Melaka (BCM).

Other pressmen are Bernama bureau chief Mohamad Bakri Darus, Berita Harian bureau chief Amirullah Andi Nur and former Sin Chew Daily bureau chief Chew Eng Sui, who will be conferred the Bintang Khidmat Terpuji (BKT).

Melaka Hari Ini and Sinar Harian reporters Vincent Low and Sharizanerni Noramlai are receiving their Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK).

State secretary Datuk Wira Omar Kaseh told a press conference yesterday that the higher number of awards this year was due to the larger number of representatives from non-governmental organisations.

Last year, 758 people received awards.