JOHOR BAHRU, May 6 (Bernama) — The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar today bestowed the state\u2019s highest Order of Chivalry on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a special investiture ceremony held at Istana Besar, here this morning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to the Sultan of Johor’s official Facebook post, Lee, 70, received the The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor (First Class), \u201cDato\u2019 Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor\u201d (S.P.M.J), which carries the title \u201cDato”.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
His wife, Ho Ching, who recently retired as Temasek Holdings chief executive officer, was also honoured with The Most Exalted Order of Sultan Ibrahim Johor (First Class), \u201cDato\u2019 Sri Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor\u201d (S.M.I.J.) which carries the title \u201cDatin Paduka\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The investiture, which was steeped in tradition and ceremony, was also graced by the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, the Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as well as other members of the Johor Royal Family.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Johor had previously also bestowed Orders of Chivalry on Singapore leaders as a testimony of the warm and close friendship it enjoys with its immediate neighbour.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
They include the late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who received the SPMJ award on 9th April 1984 in conjunction with the late Sultan Iskandar\u2019s 52nd birthday. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sultan Ibrahim said the conferment of the state\u2019s highest award on Lee was a testimony of the long standing close and strong relations between the two neighbours.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cJohor and Singapore since time immemorial have enjoyed a special relationship. Today\u2019s special investiture in honour of the Singapore Premier is a tangible manifestation of our close friendship and deepening ties.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish to thank the Prime Minister for his continuing efforts to strengthen our close and strong relations,\u201d His Majesty said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Earlier, Lee and his delegation arrived at Istana Besar in his official car at 9.30 am while Sultan Ibrahim arrived five minutes later.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Also present at the ceremony was Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: BERNAMA News Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JOHOR BAHRU, May 6 (Bernama) — The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar today bestowed the state\u2019s highest Order of Chivalry on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a special investiture ceremony held at Istana Besar, here t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n