“Datuk” Award For Astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor
KUALA PILAH, July 19 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha is bestowed the “Datuk” title in conjunction with the 86th birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Ja’afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman on Saturday, which sees a first batch of 90 people conferred decorations and medals.
The 36-year-old orthopaedic surgeon attached to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) receives the Dato’ Setia Negeri Sembilan (DSNS) award, which carries the title.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who hails from Seremban, blasted off into space on Oct 10 last year in the Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spaceship carrying three astronauts and spent nine days in the International Space Station (ISS) research facility orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 350 km.
Award recipient: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar (right) being awarded the Darjah Dato’ Setia Negri Sembilan, which carries the title ‘Datuk,’ by Tuanku Ja’afar yesterday.