The award was presented by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah to Razak’s widow, Tun Rahah Mohammad Noah, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.

Razak, who is the father of Prime Minister Najib Razak, received the award for his deeds and sacrifices as the architect who played an important role in the country’s development.

Present at the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainudin, Utusan Melayu Berhad Group Chairman Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh and Utusan Melayu Group Managing Director Mohd Noordin Abbas.

The award, the first organised by the Utusan Melayu Group, also saw Permodalan Nasional Berhad President and Group Chief Executive Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, Universiti Lim Kok Wing founder Lim Kok Wing, and Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd Chairman G. Gnanalingam receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition, awards were presented in 31 other categories to recognise individuals of calibre who had contributed to the economic development of the nation.

They included Great Eastern Life Assurance Berhad Director and Chief Executive Officer Koh Yaw Hui, who received the award in the insurance sector, and Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad Chairman Abdul Aziz Zainal, in the socio-corporate sector.

Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad Group Managing Director Mohamad Salim Fateh Din was selected as the Best Business Icon while Jakel Managing Director Mohamed Faroz Mohamed Jakel received the Best Entrepreneur Award.

– BERNAMA