The Melaka Legislative Assembly today approved a motion to establish the Darjah Seri Paduka Setia Melaka (SPSM) award as well as the Pingat Jasa Cemerlang (PJC) and Pingat Peringatan medals in conjunction with the appointment of the seventh Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka.

The motion was proposed by Chief Minister Datuk Sulaiman Md Ali (BN-Lendu) and seconded by Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Atan (BN-Asahan).

Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the motion was approved as the supporting votes exceeded more than half (17) of the total 28 members of the assembly.

Sulaiman when proposing the motion said SPSM would only be awarded to individuals who had been appointed as the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka or equivalent or higher, while PJC would be awarded to eligible individuals in the civil service or individuals who contributed to the state.

He said the Pingat Peringatan was created to commemorate the appointment of Tun Mohd Ali Rustam as the seventh Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka on June 5 and it will be awarded directly to individuals involved in the historic event.

The state assembly sitting continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA