A federal law, the Offences Relating to Awards Act, provides for up to three years’ jail for receiving or using unrecognised foreign awards, or a fine of up to RM500,000 for receiving a foreign award without the written permission of the king.

Council president Awalan Abdul Aziz said the law was not being comprehensively enforced as some states have not adopted or enacted similar enactments, Bernama reported.

He hoped that every state would enact their own provisions to curb cases of misuse of titles.

Awalan said under the law, any honour, medal or order that Malaysians receive from foreign nations without the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is invalid and cannot be recognised here.

“Only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, sultans and governors are authorised to confer legitimate honours upon individuals,” he was quoted as saying.

The federal law includes a list of countries, and their awarding authority, whose awards are recognised by Malaysia.