KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia: An amendment to the State Honours Enactment 1963 will pave the way for more people to receive the Second Grade Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Kinabalu award which carries the title "Datuk".

Tabling the amendment just before the House adjourned sine die, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Radin Malleh said the move would enable up to 1,200 people to receive the award.

This meant that an additional 150 people could receive the award yearly.

"The amendment is necessary due to the increase in the number of eligible persons to be conferred the Order every year," he added.