Act to curb selling of awards enforced

KUALA LUMPUR: The Emblems and Names Act ( amended) 2016 and the Awards Act 2016 which curbs the selling of awards and titles took effect yesterday.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said both acts can curb the abuse of awards and titles conferred by Yang di- Pertuan Agong, Rulers and the Yang diPertua Negeri.

“The amendments to the Acts show the government’s commitment to preserve the institution of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Rulers and Yang di-Pertua Negeri from being marred by irresponsible parties,” she said in a statement distributed in Parliament today.

Azalina said the government had increased the penalties and included a prison sentence which reflected the seriousness of the offence and as a preventive measure to protect the people.

Among others, the Awards Act states that it is an offence for a person to seek, accept, bribe for an unrecognised award which carries a prison sentence up to 20 years.

Meanwhile, the penalty for an offence under the Emblems and Names Act (Amended) 2016 could be a penalty up to RM20,000 or prison sentence up to three years or both compared to the RM1,000 fine previously.

“Hopefully, with the enforcement of this act, cheating cases which affect the public will be curtailed,” she said. — Bernama