The new Penang state government defied convention by slashing the total number of honorific award recipients from 1,272 in 2007 to 497 this year. Terengganu does it a step further.

No award will be conferred in conjunction with the Sultan of Terengganu’s birthday this year. No reason was given.

Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is the reigning Yang DiPertuan Agong, celebrates his 46th birthday today.

It is believed that this 'No Award' birthday is a first for any state in the country.

New Mercs

BY THE WAY, state exco members and senior officers in Terengganu started using their new Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressor cars today.

The oil-rich state bought 14 of the luxury cars for RM3.43 million to replace the Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars that had been purchased in 2004.

In comparison, during the first weeks of new governance, the present Penang state government has decided to cancel the orders of new official cars for exco members placed by the previous administration.