The posthumous Darjah Kebesaran Datuk Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) award conferred to former PAS spiritual leader, the late Haron Din, is a recognition for his contribution in upholding Islam and spreading the teachings of Islam in the country, according to his son.

Najmi, 36, said his father was listed as the recipient of the award, which carries the title 'Datuk' since early this year, but he died of heart complications in San Francisco, United States, in September.

"The Sultan of Selangor had planned to confer the award to my father when he returned from America, but Allah had better plans for him.

"Nevertheless, I'm honoured to receive this award on his behalf, for all his sacrifices in upholding Islam in this country," he told reporters after receiving the award from Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in conjunction with hi 71st birthday celebration at Istana Alam Shah today.

Haron breathed his last at the Stanford University Hospital, San Francisco, on Sept 16.

Throughout his life, Haron, as a prominent ulama, had always strived to promote goodness and unity through his religious talks at various mosques in Selangor.

Meanwhile, national artistic gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, who received the Ahli Kegemilangan Sukan Selangor (AKS) award at the investiture, said she was honoured to have received the award which she described as the palace's recognition for her contribution in sports.

"The sultan is a great supporter of sports and the award is a moral booster for athletes like me," she said.

Other recipients of the AKS award were the 2016 Paralympic Games gold medalist Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Selangor Tenpin Bowling Association honorary secretary Shalin Zulkifli; national cyclist Mohd Rizal Tisin and national diver Chew Yiwei.

- Bernama