Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V today bestowed the nation's highest award to Saudi Arabia's King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud at Istana Negara here.

The Saudi monarch was awarded the Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (D.M.N) at a special ceremony ahead of the state banquet in honour of the visiting King.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were present.

King Salman Abdulaziz, who is also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is on a four-day state visit to Malaysia starting today, at the invitation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

King Salman was accorded a state welcome at Parliament Square at the start of his visit earlier today. -- BERNAMA