Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif heads the list of 1,481 recipients of state honours in conjunction with the 79th birthday celebrations of Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Penang Abdul Rahman Abbas.

Md Raus, 66, is the sole recipient of the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN) which carries the title 'Datuk Seri Utama'.

According to the list issued by the state secretary’s office, two recipients are conferred the Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri (DPPN) which carries the title 'Datuk Seri', namely Choot Ching Khoon Realty Sdn Bhd executive chairperson Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng and Chief of Army Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim.

Another 14 recipients are conferred the Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri (DGPN) which carries the 'Datuk Seri' and, among them, are National Laureate Datuk Abdul Samad Mohamed Said; Tah Wah Group Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Hong Yeam Wah; Lembaga Tabung Haji group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah; Kobay Technology Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Koay Hean Eng; former Penang Water Supply Department director Datuk Ir Dr Lee Lok@Lee Yow Ching; Diamex Holdings Sdn Bhd chairperson/executive director Datuk Markend Dalpatram Joshi and former Seberang Perai Municipal Council president Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Jait.

Also conferred the DGPN are immigration department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali; Thye Huat Chan Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Ng Tee Soo; Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim; Syarikat Fabtronic Sdn Bhd director Datuk Siti Balkish Shariff; Customs director-general Datuk T Indera Subromaniam; Manikkam Enterprise and SM Fuji Carries (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk M. Suppiah and SJ & Associates managing director Datuk Syed Jaafar Syed Ali.