MB heads Johor honours list
Osman to receive SPMJ award during Sultan’s 60th birthday celebration
Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian heads the state’s honours list in conjunction with the Johor Ruler’s 60th birthday celebrations today.
Both Osman and state secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani will be awarded the Most Honorable Order of The Crown of Johor First Class Dato’ Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ), which carries the title Datuk.
Five others will be awarded The Most Exalted Order of The Sultan Ibrahim Johor Second Class Dato’ Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor (DMIJ), which also carries the title Datuk.
They are police aide de camp to the Johor Ruler, Senior Asst Comm R. Sugumaran, Johor Baru City Council mayor Amran A. Rahman, Iskandar Puteri City Council mayor Adib Azhari Daud, Johor Land and Mines director Mohd Halim Hasbullah and Johor deputy state secretary (development) Ramlee A. Rahman.
Twenty-six people will receive The Most Exalted Order of The Sultan Ibrahim Johor Third Class Setia Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor (SIJ).
Meanwhile, 29 others will receive the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Medal Second Class (PSI II).
Johor Council of Royal Court president Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli said this year’s celebrations were being held moderately after they were postponed in March due the general election and the Tuanku’s mother being ill at that time.
Among the events to be held at Istana Besar today are the ceremonies for blessing, allegiance and investiture.
He said 62 people were expected to receive titles and medals from the Ruler this year.
“All the events will be closed-door and only for members of the royal family and invited guests,” he added.
Abdul Rahim said there would be no celebration in all the other districts and Thursday would not be declared a public holiday.
Next year, the official birthday celebrations will be held on March 23.
Members of the public, he said, would be invited to take part in a tea ceremony in conjunction with the Johor Ruler’s birthday, to be held at the Hockey Stadium in Batu Pahat on Nov 24.
Urging people to come and sample the many Johorean delicacies, Abdul Rahim said the tea ceremony would start at 3pm.
“There will be ample food. We will also be having many food trucks that day,” he said, reminding the people to dress appropriately.
The Sultan, said Abdul Rahim, wanted the tea ceremony to be held in different districts each year as a way for him to mingle with his subjects.
In the past years, the tea ceremony was held in Johor Baru and Muar.
“The Sultan is also expected to launch four books during the event,” he said.
The books are Syair DYMM Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, Road to a Royal Coronation, Almarhum Sultan Ismail Johor 18941981 and JDT Johor Darul Ta’zim, An Abode of Dignity.