
The King’s aide-de-camp, Yahaya Othman, presented the commendation and letter to Norihan, who is receiving treatment at the Penang general hospital after being injured in a shootout with smugglers in Padang Besar.
Yahaya said Norihan was moved by the King’s gesture. “It just so happens that he is from Pahang, too, and appreciates the King’s concern for his subjects’ well-being,” Yahaya said. Sultan Abdullah is the ruler of Pahang.
Penang police chief Sahabudin Abd Manan said Norihan’s condition had improved and he could now talk and smile.
Sgt Norihan, of the General Operations Force, suffered three gunshot wounds in the border gun battle, in which his colleague Cpl Baharuddin Ramli, 54, was killed. Baharudin was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.