KUALA KANGSAR: Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah today graced the Pledge of Loyalty and Investiture Ceremony held in conjunction with his 70th birthday at Istana Iskandariah.
Also present were Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Raja Muda of Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja Di-Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain Sultan Idris.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was also present.
Earlier, Sultan Nazrin inspected a guard of honour comprising 103 members and three officers from the Royal Army Engineers Regiment 2 Division, based at Sangro Camp, Taiping, led by Colonel Abdul Rahim Hamzah.
The guard of honour was headed by Major Mohd Izuan Mohamed, with Warrant Officer 1 Mohamad Fairus Nizam Zabory serving as parade sergeant major.
A 21-gun salute was fired by the 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment, based at Sungai Buluh Camp, Selangor, and led by Lieutenant Colonel Hafizan Mat Ghani.
Sultan Nazrin conferred state awards and medals on 218 recipients during the first ceremonial session today, while the second session will be held on Nov 21.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry secretary-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin heads the list of recipients.
Anis Rizana, a former Customs Department director-general, will receive the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak, which carries the title Datuk Seri.
Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman will receive the Darjah Datuk Seri Panglima Taming Sari, which also carries the title Datuk Seri, while Accountant-General Nasran Omar will receive the Darjah Datuk Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini, which carries the title Datuk.
The Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak, which carries the title Datuk, will be conferred on 14 recipients, including state executive council member Sandrea Ng Shy Ching, Ipoh Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah and Bernama editor-in-chief D.R. Arul Rajoo.
Eight recipients, including Perak deputy police chief Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Azlin Sadari, will receive the Darjah Datuk Pahlawan Taming Sari, which carries the title Datuk Pahlawan.
The other awards comprise the Darjah Ahli Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini for 10 recipients, Darjah Ahli Paduka Mahkota Perak for 28, Darjah Ahli Cura Si Manja Kini (ACM) for 18 and Darjah Ahli Mahkota Perak for 47.
Bernama Perak bureau chief Syamsiah Sahat will be among the ACM recipients.
The state will also confer the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih on 49 recipients, Pingat Jasa Kebaktian on 31 and Pingat Lama Perkhidmatan on 10.