ANKARA – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has been conferred the Turkish Order of the State, the highest award of the Turkish government, in conjunction with the king’s state visit to Turkiye.
The king received the award from Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace, making him the first Asean head of state to be given the honour.
The Agong is among five heads of state conferred the award under the leadership of Erdogan.
The other recipients were the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud; King Philippe of Belgium; Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Tunisian President Mohamed Beji Caid Essebsi.
At the same ceremony, the king bestowed Malaysia’s highest award, the Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (DMN), on Erdogan.
The DMN is usually accorded to state rulers but is also bestowed on an honorary basis on foreign heads of state and other most esteemed people.
Apart from Erdogan, the other foreign heads of state conferred the DMN were Queen Elizabeth, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al-Thani, King Salman and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, the consort of the sultan of Brunei.
After the award presentation ceremony, the king attended a traditional concert hosted by Erdogan.
The king was accompanied by Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and their daughters Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Earlier, the Malaysian royals attended a state banquet hosted by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan at the Presidential Palace after being accorded a state welcome.
The king and queen will have a busy schedule during their seven-day state visit to Ankara and Istanbul. – Bernama, August 17, 2022
