Kuala lumpur: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today conferred federal awards, decorations and medals on 54 recipients in conjunction with the 2026 Federal Territory Day celebration at Istana Negara. Also present at the investiture ceremony was Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, leading the list of recipients was Court of Appeal President Datuk Abu Bakar Jais, who was conferred the Seri Mahkota Wilayah (SMW), which carries the title Datuk Seri. Other recipients of the SMW included Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah, Ministry of Economy secretary-general Datuk Seri Nor Azmie Diron, and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud.
The ceremony also saw 15 individuals receiving the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah (PMW) award, which carries the title Datuk. This group was led by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang. Other PMW award recipients included Ministry of Digital secretary-general Datuk Fabian Bigar, Education director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad, and Ministry of Defence deputy secretary-general (Policy) Datuk Mohd Yani Daud.
Further recipients of the PMW were Federal Territories Department deputy director-general (Management and Socio-Economic) Datuk Parang Abai @ Thomas, and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture deputy secretary-general (Management) Datuk S Surrendren. Also conferred with the PMW were Royal Malaysian Navy deputy chief, Vice Admiral Datuk Badarudin Taha, and Royal Malaysia Police Logistics and Technology Department director, Commissioner Datuk Gilbert Philip Layang.
The PMW list also included Universiti Utara Malaysia professor Datuk Prof Dr Norazah Mohd Suki and Universiti Putra Malaysia's director of Malaysian Cryptology Technology and Management Centre, Datuk Prof Dr Muhammad Rezal Kamel Ariffin. Notably, former national badminton athlete Datuk Soo Beng Kiang was among the honorees.
His Majesty also conferred the Johan Mahkota Wilayah (JMW) award upon 15 individuals, notable among them were Ministry of Communications Deputy Secretary-General (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran, National Sports Council Director-General Jefri Ngadirin, and the Prime Minister's Senior Press Secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah.
Six recipients received the Kesatria Mahkota Wilayah (KMW) award, including the Federal Territories Sports Council Director, Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin Nik Saleh. The ceremony also presented the Ahli Mahkota Wilayah (AMW) award to five individuals, and the Pingat Pangkuan Mahkota Wilayah (PPW) medal to nine others.
The approximately one-hour ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, members of the Cabinet, and other distinguished guests.