KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah on Monday bestowed the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN) award, which carries the title "Tun", on the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The investiture took place at the Balai Rong Seri (Throne Room) of the Istana Negara here.

It was attended by the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Haminah.

Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor; Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin; Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and Taib's wife, Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib.

Taib was sworn in as Sarawak's seventh Yang Dipertua Negeri on March 1 after stepping down as the chief minister on Feb 28.

He had been the chief minister for 33 years from March 26, 1981, after having succeeded his uncle, Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub. - Bernama