A TOTAL of 1,117 individuals will be honoured with state awards, medals and honours by Penang Governor Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak in celebration of his 74th birthday.
Leading the list of awardees this year are Dato’ Dr Zulkapli Mohamed, the director general of Public Services; Dato’ Seri Tun Abd Majid Dato’ Tun Hamzah, the former Penang High Court judge; and Dato’ Indera Ir Baharin Din, the chief executive director of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).
All three of them will be awarded the Darjah Panglima Pangkutan Negeri (DPPN), which carries the title Dato’ Seri.
Additionally, a total of 27 individuals will receive the Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri (DGPN), which also carries the title of Dato’ Seri.
They include the former Deputy Chief Minister I Dato’ Ir. Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman; former State Secretary Dato’ Sayuthi Bakar; Bertam assemblyman Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican; former state Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Dato’ Abdul Halim Hussain; former state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh; former Social Development and non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng and former Penang Police Chief Dato’ Sri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, former Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) Penang chairman Dato’ Jerry Chan, and current Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Penang chairman Dato’ Lee Teong Li.
Furthermore, there will be 15 recipients for the Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri (DMPN) awards and 93 recipients for the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) awards. Both awards carry the title Dato’.
Among the DMPN recipients are Penang Water Supply Corporation board member Dato’ Brian Tan Guan Hooi; Director General of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), Prof Associate Dr Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil; former chairman of the Penang State Islamic Religious Council, Dato’ Mohd Salleh Man; Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce president Dato’ S. Parthiban and the Penang State Finance Officer, Zabidah Safar.
Among the DSPN recipients are deputy Penang State Speaker Azrul Mahathir Aziz, who is also the Bayan Lepas assemblyman; former Agrotechnology & Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin, who is a former Penanti assemblyman; Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng; former Kebun Bunga assemblyman, Ong Khan Lee; former Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, who is also a former Bagan Jermal assemblyman; and former Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, who is also a former Paya Terubong assemblyman.
In addition, a total of 74 individuals will receive the Darjah Johan Negeri (DJN); Bintang Cemerlang Negeri (BCN – 14); Pingat Kelakuan Terpuji (PKT – 168); Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK – 298); Pingat Jasa Masyarakat (PJM – 399) and Pingat Bakti Setia (PBS – 26).
State Speaker Dato’ Law Choo Kiang announced that the award ceremony is scheduled for four days, starting on Oct 14. The initial plan was to hold the awards ceremony earlier, but it was postponed due to the recent state election.
“The celebration event will begin with a guard of honor ceremony at Dataran Sri Pinang, followed by the award ceremony at the ceremonial hall near Dewan Sri Pinang.
“The awards will be presented to 213 recipients on the first day (Oct 14), followed by 310 recipients on the second day (Oct 16), 302 recipients on the third day (Oct 17) and 292 recipients on the fourth day (Oct 18).
According to Law, a State Tea Party will be held at Setia SPICE Arena, Relau, on the island on Oct 14 (Saturday) and at Vangohh Eminent Hotel, Bukit Mertajam, on the mainland on Oct 19 (Thursday), with the presence of Tun Ahmad Fuzi and his consort, Toh Puan Dato’ Seri Utama Khadijah Mohd Nor and other state dignitaries.
He added that a State Dinner will be held in conjunction with Tun Ahmad Fuzi’s birthday celebration at Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Relau on Oct 17.
Story by Ammar Mikhail Aamer
Pix by Law Suun Ting