JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, bestowed the state’s highest Order of Chivalry on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a special investiture ceremony held at Istana Besar.

       In a Bernama report, which cited the Sultan of Johor’s Facebook post, Lee, 70, received The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor (First Class) or Dato’ Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ), which carries the title Datuk.

       His wife, Ho Ching, who recently retired as Temasek Holdings chief executive officer, was also honoured with The Most Exalted Order of Sultan Ibrahim Johor (First Class), “Dato Sri Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor” (SMIJ), which carries the title Datin Paduka.

       The investiture ceremony here yesterday morning was steeped in tradition.

       The ceremony was also graced by the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, the Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, as well as other members of the Johor royal family.

       Johor had previously also bestowed Orders of Chivalry on Singapore leaders as a testimony to the warm and close friendship it enjoys with its immediate neighbour.

       They included the late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who received the SPMJ award on April 9, 1984, in conjunction with the late Sultan Iskandar’s 52nd birthday.