Khan award upsets Malaysian locals

Shahrukh Khan was awarded the title of “Datuk” — the equivalent of a knighthood in Britain — by Malacca in recognition of his promotion of the southern state through his films.

Malacca Chief Minister Mohamad Ali Rustam said Khan had helped the state’s tourism because six of his movies involved locations in Malacca, the New Sunday Times quoted him as saying. This included the hit “One 2 Ka 4,” which was shot at a resort in Malacca in 2001.

But the move has stirred controversy. The Sunday Star newspaper said many Malaysians were astounded by the award.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, in a statement, said priority should be given to local artists.

If Shahrukh Khan deserves the award, then other foreign stars including Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones who shot the Hollywood movie “Entrapment” in Kuala Lumpur in 1999 should also be given similar recognition, he said.

“I thought the award is given to those who have contributed toward Malacca’s development. I wonder whether Shahrukh Khan even knows where Malacca is,” businesswoman Fatimah Tahir told the newspaper.

But Ali said, “It would have cost millions to promote Malacca through advertisements, but instead Shahrukh has brought Malacca to the attention of the world through his movies,” the Star reported.

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