Former deputy premier Musa Hitam has been conferred the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) which carries the title Tun, the highest federal award, from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail in conjunction with the King's 63rd official birthday today.

Musa, 72, a former chairperson of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), sits on the board of several companies and is chairman of plantation group Kumpulan Guthrie and Lion Industries Corporation Berhad.

According to a Bernama report, 20 people are awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) which carries the title Tan Sri, 40 the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) and five the Panglima Setia Di-Raja (PSD), both of which carry the title Datuk, out of a total of 1,905 people who receive various awards and medals.

The new Tan Sris include the Director-General of Health Dr Ismail Merican, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan (right), Army Chief Jen Abdul Aziz Zainal, Navy Chief Laksamana Ilyas Din and Air Force Chief Jen Nik Ismail Nik Mohamed.

For singer and sport stars

Twenty people receive the Johan Mangku Negara (JMN), 72 the Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM), five the Johan Setia Di Raja (JSD), 333 the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN), 17 the Kesatria Setia Di Raja (KSD), 580 the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), 757 the Pingat Pangkuan Negara (PPN), 43 the Bentara Setia Di Raja (BSD) and three the Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK).

Veteran singer Ahmad Jais, 70, an icon of the so-called "Pop Yeh Yeh" era of the 1960's is one of the recipients of the PJN bearing the title Datuk.

Malaysia's squash sensation Nicol Ann David, now ranked world's No 2 after a brief spell as the world's No 1 woman player, is among the KMN recipients.

Lee Chong Wei, the world's No 2 ranked badminton player and national doubles pair Chan Chong Ming and Koo Kien Keat are among the AMN recipients.