KUALA KANGSAR: Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, today graced the Pledge of Loyalty and Investiture Ceremony in conjunction with his 68th birthday, at Istana Iskandariah, here.
Also in attendance were Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, Raja Di-Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain Sultan Idris and and Raja Puan Muda Perak Tunku Soraya Abdul Halim Shah.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was also present.
Earlier, Sultan Nazrin inspected a guard of honour mounted by 102 members and three officers of the Royal Army Engineers Regiment 2 Division under the leadership of Colonel Abdul Rahim Hamzah, while the guard of honour was headed by Major Mohd Nurul Hasan.
A 21-gun salute was fired by the 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment based in Sungai Buluh Camp, Selangor, led by Major Hafizan Mat Ghani.
Sultan Nazrin conferred Perak state awards and medals to a total of 213 recipients today.
In the first ceremonial session today, 59 individuals received their awards, while the second session will be held on Nov 16.
The Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad leads the list and was conferred the Dato' Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) award, which carries the title Datuk Seri.
The same recognition was bestowed upon Auditor General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi and Yee Lee Corporation executive chairman Datuk Lim Kok Cheong.
Economy Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Nor Azmie Diron received Dato' Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini (DPCM) which carries the title Datuk.
Petronas Group Corporate Communications former general manager and the New Straits Times (NST) contributor Abdul Rahim Mydin received Darjah Dato' Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP), which carries the title Datuk.
Among other recipients of the DPMP were Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff and Perak Islamic Religious Department director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim and Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital head of Otolaryngology Dr D. Philip Rajan.
Federal police Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri headed the list of six recipients of the Datuk Pahlawan Taming Sari (DPTS) award, which carries the title Datuk Pahlawan.
The other five recipients were Special Branch director Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Ng Kong Soon, Armed Forces Engineering Services Division director Major General CS M. Thevendran, Armed Forces Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist Brigadier General Dr Sharifah Sofiah Syed Zainol and Royal Malaysian Navy Commander of Maritime Region 1, Rear Admiral Farizal Myeor.
A total of 13 people received Darjah Paduka Cura Si Manja (PCM) and 28 people received Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (PMP), including the Media Prima Bhd Deputy Group Managing Editor (News) and NST group editor, Farrah Naz Karim.