EXCLUSIVE | The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will not be conferring titles in conjunction with his official birthday celebrations on Sept 9.

An officer with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) confirmed this with Malaysiakini.

“There will only be a speech by the Agong and a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” said another source, who declined to be named.

Malaysiakini also learned that this is the first time that the Agong will not be granting titles on his birthday.

It is learned that the list of recipients provided by the previous administration would be vetted again.

Earlier, former minister Rais Yatim also tweeted about the matter.

Rais, who is now a Bersatu member, said it had been learned that the Agong would not bestow any titles.

“If this is true, then syabas (congratulations). Don't let the practice of presenting tributes to the rulers continue, including at the state level...,” he added.

Last year, Sultan Muhammad had conferred 1,518 awards on his birthday.

Dikhabarkan tahun ini takda anugerah bintang kebesaran oleh YDAgong, cuma titah ucapan dan ucapan PM saja. Syabas kalau benar begitu. Jgn hendaknya amalan was-was ufti terdahulu berterusan termasuk di peringkat negeri. Fasal bintang ini, ia semacam cacing dah naik ke mata. — RAISYATIM (@DrRaisYatim) August 24, 2018

Among the awardees, 48 were bestowed with the "Tan Sri" title while three, former MIC president S Samy Vellu, former MCA deputy president Michael Chen and former chief justice Md Raus Sharif received the highest honorific title, "Tun".