SRK unlikely to come to Malaysia to receive state title

KUALA LUMPUR: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has indicated that he will not be able to fly down to Malaysia to receive a prestigious title conferred on him by the state of Malacca.
 
The actor was to arrive here on November 29 to receive the "Datukship" title. State officials were reportedly arranging for another date for the star to come, Star newspaper reported on Thursday.
 
The announcement to confer the title on Khan drew criticisms from a broad spectrum of Malaysians as many of them felt that the award could have been given to local artists. Some had even questioned if the star knew where Malacca was.
 
Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam did not want to comment on the matter. "I understand it has been postponed. For any details, you will have to ask the State Secretary," he said on Wednesday.
 
Shah Rukh Khan was among 77 people conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) which carries the title Datuk in conjunction with the 70th birthday of Sultan of the state Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob last month.
 
The idea to confer the award on the actor was mooted by former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin with the Chief Minister defending the move.
 
Defending the decision, officials had said that Khan, by shooting scenes for his movie One to ka Four and some others had made Malacca popular and this has increase tourism to the state.