Kuala Lumpur: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has been conferred with a traditional title equivalent to that of a knighthood by a Malaysian state for promoting it through his films, a move denounced by opposition lawmakers and public who said the priority should be given to local artists.
Khan, 42, was given the Governor's award which carries the title 'Datuk' – equivalent to British knighthood – for promoting the southern Malacca state through his movies.
The actor was among several others who to get the award on the occasion of 70th birth anniversary of Malacca's head of state Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
However, both opposition politicians and commoners strongly objected to the state government's decision and raised questions over Khan's assistance to promoting Malacca, 'The Star' daily reported today. According to the newspaper, opposition leader and DAP party advisor Lim Kit Siang said he was not against deserving people being awarded the 'Datukship' but priority should be given to local artists.
"If Shahrukh Khan deserved the award, then so should Hollywood stars Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones who shot a movie against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in 1999," Siang said.
A business woman Fatimah Tahir was quoted as saying "I thought the award is given to those who have contributed towards Malacca's development. I wonder whether Shahrukh Khan even knows where Malacca is."
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