Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has been conferred with a traditional title equivalent to that of a knighthood by a Malaysian state for promoting it through his films, a move denounced by opposition lawmakers and public who said the priority should be given to local artists.

42-year-old Khan was given the Governor’s award which carries the title ‘Datuk’ - equivalent to British knighthood  - for promoting the southern Malacca state through his movies. The actor was among several others, who to get the award on the occasion of 70th birth anniversary of Malacca’s head of state Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

However, both opposition politicians and commoners strongly objected to the state government’s decision, and raised questions over Khan’s assistance to promoting Malacca. Opposition leader and DAP Party Advisor Lim Kit Siang stated, he was not against deserving people being awarded the ‘Datukship’ but priority should be given to local artists.

“If Shahrukh Khan deserved the award, then so should Hollywood stars Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who shot a movie against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in 1999,” Siang said.

A business woman Fatimah Tahir mentioned, “I thought, the award is given to those, who have contributed towards Malacca’s development. I wonder whether Shahrukh Khan even knows, where Malacca is.”

However, Malacca Chief Minister Mohammad Ali Rustam defended the move explaining, the Bollywood actor has helped in promoting the state through his movies and song sequences. Ali told, “It would have cost millions to promote Malacca through advertisements but instead Shahrukh Khsn, has brought it to the attention of the world through his movies.”

Malacca Chief Minister also added, there were six movies of Khan, in which the various songs and scenes depicted several sites in Malacca. One of Khan’s movies ‘One 2 Ka 4′ was shot at popular resort in Malacca in 2001.

Malaysia, home to millions of ethnic Indians, of late has become a popular destination for Hindi film producers to shoot their movies in its picturesque locations. Bollywood actors are very popular among the masses in the country.