KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 ― Three prominent figures were among 103 recipients conferred federal awards and honours for 2017 at Istana Negara here today in conjunction with the birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

They were Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif and two former Cabinet ministers, Tun Michael Chen Wing Sum and Tun S. Samy Vellu. They were conferred the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM), the nation’s highest award which carries the title "Tun”.

Md Raus, 66, was appointed Chief Justice on April 1. He replaced Tun Arifin Zakaria  who retired.

Samy Vellu, 81, is Malaysia's Special Envoy to Indian and South Asia for Infrastructure. He was appointed to the post effective January 1, 2011 and was the longest serving Cabinet minister, starting as Minister of Public Works and Utilities in 1979 and leaving as Works Minister in 2008.― Bernama