King will not confer titles
KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will not be conferring any titles in conjunction with his official birthday celebration on Sept 9.
Malaysiakini, in a report, said this was confirmed by an officer with the Prime Minister’s Office.
“There will only be a speech by the King and a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.”
It is understood that this would mark the first time that the king would not bestow any titles in conjunction with his birthday.
The report said the list of recipients provided by the previous Barisan Nasional administration would be vetted again.
Traditionally, a selection committee chaired by the prime minister, assisted by the chief secretary to the government and the inspector-general of police, would vet a list of recipients and submit its recommendations.
The committee is responsible for evaluating and recommending the major award recipients, especially for awards that carry the titles “Tun”, “Tan Sri” and “Datuk”.
An Istana Negara source said only the Ceremonies and International Conventions Secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Department could comment on the matter.
Last year, the king conferred 1,518 awards on his birthday.
Former minister Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim had earlier commented on the matter. Rais, who was former socio-cultural adviser to the government, said he learnt that the king would not be bestowing any titles this year.
“Congratulations are in order if this is true. Do not let the practice of presenting tributes to the rulers continue, including at the state level...”