PEKAN: Former New Straits Times (NST) sports editor Lazarus Rokk described the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) bestowed on him as an appreciation by Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah for those involved in sports.
Rokk, now a ‘Datuk’, was among 77 DIMP recipients to receive their awards from Tengku Abdullah at an investiture ceremony at Istana Abu Bakar here today.
Also present at the ceremony was Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and 215 award recipients held in conjunction with the sultan’s birthday.
Rokk said the award was the highest he had ever received after spending 31 years in the media. Apart from NST, he had also served in The Star and Malay Mail.
“Sports is a subject close to the hearts of the Sultan and the Tengku Mahkota (Tengku Abdullah). Both of them deeply appreciated those involved in sports...not only athletes and sports officers, as even sports writers were also recognised.
“The award recognises my career efforts even though I knew Tengku Abdullah when I was still a journalist and he was active in football,” he told reporters when met here today.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister’s press secretary K. Sivakumar who was also bestowed the DIMP, said the award was an appreciation for all media colleagues who frequently assisted him.
“I did not expect to be awarded. Some have been teasing me about being a datuk, I take it as a joke. But today, it has become a reality,” he said.
Sivakumar added that the recognition was sweeter for him as he is a Pahang-born and was raised in Bentong near here.
Legal practitioner Joshua Kevin Sathiaseelan, who was also honoured with the DIMP, was grateful to the Pahang Sultan for the recognition.
“I did not expect to be selected for the title. I received a call informing me that I had been chosen last week...initially I was quite shocked and wondered if I had heard correctly.
“Now I am worried about the expectations of the people on the award. Some of them may think it would not be appropriate to joke with me and so on...but I am still the same person,” he said.
Joshua Kevin who has 16 years experience in law admitted the award was the highest recognition he had ever received and would take it as a motivation to achieve more successes in future. --BERNAMA