PETALING JAYA: Former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam (pic) has been appointed as Chancellor (Menteri Darjah).
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Musa’s appointment was with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
“His appointment as Chancellor for the Darjah Yang Mulia Setia Mahkota Malaysia is for three years beginning Sept 13, 2024, until Sept 12, 2027.
“The appointment is in line with requirements stated under the Darjah Yang Mulia Setia Mahkota Malaysia Statute.
“This is to ensure that matters on the signing of instruments for the award of Darjah Yang Mulia Setia Mahkota under the federal awards, medals and honours are smooth,” it said.
The PMO later clarified that the position of the Chancellor does not hold the status of a Cabinet minister.
“Each award, medal or honour has an instrument. Each instrument must be signed by two parties, namely the Registrar of Orders and the Chancellor, before being signed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“The duty of the Chancellor is only to sign the instrument to ensure the authenticity of the issued certificate,” it said.
Musa, 90, a Johorean, was the country’s fifth deputy prime minister and a home minister in the 1980s.
He had also previously served as Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, chairman of the 51st and 52nd sessions of the UN Human Rights Commission, and chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation.
The chairman emeritus of United Malayan Land Bhd has also held positions as chairman of Sime Darby Bhd and the Guthrie Group.
