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KUALA LUMPUR: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan will now flaunt the prefix ‘Datuk’, a traditional title conferred by the Malaysian royalty.
Khan is among 78 others including Malaysia’s navy chief, academics and artists, to receive the award, in conjunction with the Malacca governor’s 70th birthday.
The 42-year-old actor was honoured with the governor’s award for his contribution in promoting Malaysia to the region’s film industry, state officials said.
His 2001 movie, “One 2 Ka 4” was filmed at a popular resort in Malacca.
“This resulted in many people visiting Malacca. The award was given in recognition of this,” said Malacca chief minister Mohamad Ali Rustam.
However, this move was met by criticism by opposition lawmakers and the public.
Opposition parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang said he was “astounded”.
“Are there no Malaysian film stars, artists or sports-people who have greater (talent) to be honoured and encouraged as compared to Shah Rukh?” Lim said in a statement.
“I don’t think the reason that has been given for making Shah Rukh Khan a Malacca Datuk would impress or convince many that the Bollywood actor-dancer has ‘contributed to our tourism industry’,” he added.
Not only is Khan very popular among women of all ages in Malaysia, but Bollywood films in general have a huge following among the country's ethnic Indians and majority Muslim-Malays.
- CNA/jk
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