Shahrukh going to Malacca to accept Datuk

Kuala Lumpur (ANI): Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has confirmed that he would be going to Malacca for accepting the Malaysian honour Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) award. The award carries the title of Datuk and will be given by Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob next month.

"Shahrukh Khan has agreed to accept it and this was conveyed to the Governor's Office. He will try to make it in November but the date of the ceremony has yet to be fixed," Star Online quoted Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, as saying.

Rustam said that former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin was making arrangements for the actor's trip to the country. It was Zainuddin who pitched Mohd Khalil for honouring the actor. Rustam also said that the award ceremony was not especially meant for the King Khan but also for those who could not receive their awards on governor Khalil's 70th birthday on Oct 11. He said that the award would also be given to Japan's Honda Motors chief executive officer Tokeo Fukui who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Rustam also defended the state's decision to confer a Datukship on Khan. He said that the actor had helped promote Malacca to an international audience through his films One 2 Ka 4 and Don. He further said that a similar publicity on CNN would have cost the state a fortune. He also said that the move to confer the award on the actor would prompt him to shoot more films here.