France’s Highest Distinction “Legion D’honneur” Conferred To Selangor Princess Tengku Zatashah

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- Selangor Princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was conferred with France’s highest distinction ‘Legion d’Honneur’ by France President, Francois Hollande. French Ambassador to Malaysia, Christophe Penot handed over the title to the Sultan of Selangor’s daughter in an official ceremony at the French Residence here Tuesday night. He said the conferment of the highest distinction of honour signified recognition from the French Government towards Tengku Zatashah for her important role played as President of Alliance Francaise de Kuala Lumpur over the past five years and already Vice-President before that since 2009. "The award received by Tengku Zatashah was timely to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and France this year," he said at the conferment ceremony. In 2013, Tengku Zatashah was selected to represent Malaysia and Asia at the Fondation Alliance Francaise to talk about culture, and she had the opportunity to meet the French President at the Palais de l’Elysée for Alliance Francaise’s 130th-anniversary celebration. Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur is a non-profit organisation established in 1961 as the official French culture and language centre in Malaysia. The Legion of Honour is France’s highest honour, created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Order rewards men and women, French or foreigners, for their exemplary services rendered to France or to the causes supported by France. Penot said Tengku Zatashah also worked for five years at L’Oreal headquarters in Paris in International Corporate Communications. She also studied in Paris at La Sorbonne University as well as obtained her Master’s degree at the American Graduate School in Paris. Tengku Zatashah, married to Frenchman Aubry Rahim Mennesson, has also completed her Finance for Executives programme at the French business school, Insead. Also present at the ceremony were Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, the Crown Prince of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah and Selangor Chief Minister Mohd Azmin Ali. Tengku Zatashah, who speaks French fluently, said she was greatly honoured to accept the prestigious award and hoped the relationship between Malaysia and France would continue to strengthen. Selangor is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. --BERNAMA