Order of the Defender of the Realm

The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm (Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritous service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (Lit:Protected by God-Defender of the Realm,By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The order was instituted on 6 August 1958 and initially had the five highest ranks. The medal was added on 19 August 1960.

Order ranks
The order has six ranks:

Grand Commander

 * Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (S.M.N.) (Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara). This rank is limited to 25 recipients, except foreign citizens who are conferred honorary awards. The recipient of this award receives the title Tun and his wife Toh Puan.

The collar comprises the crests of the states in Malaysia with an eleven-pointed star made of gold-plated silver. The ribbon is of dark blue silk and has yellow stripes on both the edges. It has a central white stipe, charged with a smaller red stripe in its middle.

Commander

 * Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (P.M.N.) (Panglima Mangku Negara)

It is limited to 75 recipients, excluding foreign citizens who are conferred honorary awards. The recipient of this award receives the title Tan Sri and the his wife takes the title of Puan Sri.

The Star is made of gold-plated silver and so is the badge but smaller in size. The ribbon has white stripes on both the edges and red stripes in the centre. The red stripes lie on the yellow stripes. The end of the ribbon is tied with a ribbon and the badge suspends from below the ribbon.

Companion

 * Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (J.M.N.) (Johan Mangku Negara)

Recipients are limited to 700 only, excluding foreign citizens who receive it as an honorary award. It does not carry any title.

The badge of the Johan Mangku Negara is an eleven-pointed star made of gold-plated silver. Each point is white and in between are a star and crescent moon. They are made of gold-plated silver. In the centre of the star is a white circle decorated with carvings of the Malaysian Royal Crown. The badge has a radius of 2¼ inches. It suspends from a ribbon which is of the same colour as that of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm but has narrower stripes. The badge is worn around the neck. The badge for women has a ribbon which is tied in a bow. The badge suspends from the bow and is pinned to the chest.

Officer

 * Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (K.M.N.) (Kesatria Mangku Negara)

There is no limit to the number of persons to be awarded this honour. It can also be conferred on foreign citizens as an honorary award. It does not carry any title.

The badge of the Kesatria Mangku Negara is similar in shape as that of the Johan Setia Negara. It has a radius of 2 inches. The badge suspends from a riband measuring 1½ inches. The ribbon is of the same colour as that of the Johan Setia Negara. There is a kris on the ribbon, upright with its blade pointing downward. The kris is enclosed in a circle. The badge is pinned on the chest. For the women, the ribbon is tied in a bow and the badge suspends from below the knot of the bow. The kris in the circle is pinned on the bow of the ribbon.

Member

 * Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (A.M.N.) (Ahli Mangku Negara)

There is no limit to the number to be awarded this honour.

The design the badge is the same as that of the Darjah Kesatria Mangku Negara but the kris lies in the centre. The badge has a radius of 1¾ inches. It is pinned to the chest. It suspends from a riband which is of the same colour as that of the Kesatria Mangku Negara. For women, the riband is tied in a bow and the badge suspends from below the centre of the bow.

Medal

 * Medal of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (P.P.N.) (Pingat Pangkuan Negara)

There is no limit to the number to be honored with this award.

The Pangkuan Negara medal is round and made of silver. On the surface is a carving of the Malaysian Royal Crown. The slogan DIPELIHARAKAN ALLAH is surmounted on the Crown. The letters are in Roman and Arabic. Under the Malaysian Royal Crown is another inscription, PANGKUAN NEGARA, also in Roman and Arabic letters. At the back of the badge is the Federal Crest with the inscription JASA CEMERLANG in Roman and Arabic. The badge suspends from a ribbon, which is of the same shape and colour as that of the Ahli Mangku Negara and is about 1½ inches wide.

Notable recipients

 * P. Ramlee (1929-1973), Malaysian actor, film director, and musician, was awarded the rank of AMN in 1962. He was posthumously awarded the rank of PMN in 1990.
 * Lee Kong Chian (1893-1967), Chinese businessman and philanthropist, was awarded the rank of PMN in 1964.
 * Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden (b. 1977), was awarded the rank of SMN in 1995.
 * Sir Gerald Templer (1898-1979),was awarded the rank of SMN in 1960.