SULTAN of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah today conferred the title of “Seniman Diraja” (Royal Artist) on the cartoonist Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Lat.

Sultan Nazrin bestowed the honour on Lat, 72, at the investiture ceremony for the state awards and medal recipients in conjunction with His Highness’ 67th birthday celebration at Balairong Seri Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar.

Also in attendance were Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Raja Muda Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja Puan Besar Perak Raja Nazhatul Shima Sultan Idris Shah.

Present were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad.

On July 8, when opening “Galeri Rumah Lat” in Batu Gajah, Sultan Nazrin announced the conferment of the title.

The honour was in recognition of Lat’s contribution in introducing Malaysia to international audiences.

Earlier, Perak Mufti Wan Zahidi Wan Teh led the list of 24 recipients in the first investiture session today, part of the 238 recipients announced last Friday. The second session will be on November 18.

Wan Zahidi, 81, who was appointed Perak Mufti on August 1 last year, was the recipient of the state’s highest award, the Dato’ Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) which carries the title “Datuk Seri”.

Army chief Mohammad Ab Rahman and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay were conferred the Dato’ Seri Panglima Taming Sari (SPTS) award which carries the title “Datuk Seri Panglima”.

Perak finance officer Mohd Zaki Mahyuddin was conferred the Darjah Dato’ Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini award which carries the title “Datuk”.

Fourteen 4 recipients were awarded the Darjah Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Perak which also carries the title “Datuk”. They were New Straits Times Press Berhad group managing editor Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman, Malaysian High Commissioner to India Muzafar Shah Mustafa, Perak Women, Family, Social Welfare and Entrepreneurs Development Committee chairman and Temengor assemblyman Salbiah Mohamed and former deputy health minister Lee Boon Chye.

Also conferred were Perak Public Works Department director Hamdan Ali, Perak Education Department director Mohamad Fauzi Mahson, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital director Megat Iskandar Megat Abdul Hamid, Finance Strategic Investment Division Ministry secretary Nor Eni Ismail and Perbadanan Pembangunan Pertanian Negeri Perak chief executive officer Yahanis Yahya.

Receiving the same honour was Court of Appeal Judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah who should have received it last year.

Other recipients were Universiti Teknologi Petronas Vice Chancellor Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib, Perak Hockey Association president Mohd Saiyuti Abd Samat, CST Auto Group Of Companies CEO P. Chandrasekaran and former Perak Parks Corporation director Mohamed Shah Redza Hussein.

Five individuals were conferred the Darjah Dato’ Pahlawan Taming Sari award which carries the title of Datuk Pahlawan, namely the Department of Surveying and Mapping Malaysia director Mohd Zambri Mohamad Rabab, IGP secretariat R. Suparamaniam, Navy Inspector-General Mohd Fadzli Kamal Mohd Mohaldin, former director-general of army health services Leong Weng Foon and commander of the second infantry Asri Shukor. – Bernama, November 5, 2023.