SHAH RUKH KHAN TO RECEIVE AWARD NEXT MONTH

MELAKA (Malaysia), Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Bollywood actor, Shah Rukh Khan has agreed to come to Melaka to receive his Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) award, which carries the title "Datuk", next month.

Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the Melaka Governor's Office was
recently informed of the Indian actor's decision to accept the award.

"However, the exact date of his coming has not been confirmed yet," he told
reporters after the launching ceremony of Menara TM (Telekom Malaysia) by the
Melaka Governor, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, at the Melaka International
Trade Centre (MITC)in Ayer Keroh, here Tuesday.

Malacca is located on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia facing the
Straits of Malacca, about 147 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur between the states of
Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

Shah Rukh Khan was among 758 recipients of Melaka state honours this year
that were presented in conjunction with Mohd Khalil's 70th birthday on Oct
11.

Mohd Ali added that arrangements for the actor's trip here was being made
through former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, who had suggested the actor
be given the award.

The decision to confer the award on the actor drew loud protests from
the public but Mohd Ali mantained that the mileage the state could get from the
exercise would help boost tourist arrivals to the state.