Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham trending on Twitter

As at 5 pm Monday, the title 'Tan Sri' alone was used in more than 26,500 tweets, following the award received by Dr Noor Hisham, a figure highly respected by many Malaysians for his role in the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members of the Cabinet, country leaders, opposition MPs, local celebrities and netizens also took the opportunity to congratulate Dr Noor Hisham on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Among them were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri and Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad who congratulated Dr Noor Hisham, who has been listed as one of the world's top three doctors in the world by the China Global TV Network (CGTN) for his approach in handling the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Congratulations Tan Sri!," Noraini tweeted.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Monday conferred the PSM award to Dr Noor Hisham at an investiture ceremony at Istana Melawati, Putrajaya, in conjunction with the King's official birthday.

Former Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun in his tweet shared a photo of Dr Noor Hisham with the caption "Heartiest congratulations to our Director-General of Health @DGHisham . He is now a Tan Sri. He has been conferred the 'Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM)' award in conjunction with DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong's official birthday celebration. Much deserved. Congratulations,"

Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, also congratulated Dr Noor Hisham, whom he called 'a true Malaysian hero.

Popular Malaysian celebrity Neelofa said: "Heartiest congratulations to Tan Sri @DGHisham on your well-deserved award. Thank you for your contribution to the country. Our true Malaysian Hero!.

Malaysian-born UK-based trainee surgeon Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri also took to Twitter to congratulate the Health director-general.

Dr Noor Hisham in his tweet described the conferment of the award as the biggest recognition for all frontliners and staff of the Ministry of Health (MOH) who have been fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. This award is an honour to all MOH staff and frontliners and behind the scene personnel, it is also a symbol of government's appreciation towards civil servants," he said and the post was retweeted more than 8,500 times and received 15,000 likes at press time.