{
  "id": 11408979,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Ameng Spring conferred Datukship: Singer kept royal award secret from family",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/showbiz-ameng-spring-conferred-datukship-singer-kept-royal-award",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:48:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/10/1546270/showbiz-ameng-spring-conferred-datukship-singer-kept-royal-award"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singer Ameng from the band Spring has been bestowed the title of Datuk after receiving the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) award in Malaysia. The honor was presented by the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, on the occasion of His Majesty's 67th birthday. Ameng, whose real name is Wan Aminuddin Wan Ismail, 57, revealed that he kept the prestigious award a secret from his family, including his three children. They were unaware of the honor and believed he was heading to Pahang for a regular event. Only when he received the medal did they discover the truth. Ameng admitted to feeling nervous before attending the event, attributing his anxiety to the strict protocol involved in receiving the award, rather than the presence of royalty. After nearly six decades of life, he feels a sense of satisfaction that everything he has worked towards has finally paid off, allowing him to turn a new page. He expressed his pride in making his children happy, particularly after dealing with the stigma of his broken home and past drug abuse and prison time. Watching his daughter Azeva's live streams, he often heard viewers bring up Ameng's past, which made him feel a deep sense of contentment with his achievement. He hopes his story serves as a lesson to others not to give up, regardless of their background. Ameng emphasized that the title has not changed his daily life and that he aims to maintain a proper image while performing. Additionally, he sees no issue with creating TikTok videos for entertainment, as long as it doesn't disrespect the honor.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Singer Ameng from the band Spring has been conferred the title of Datuk after receiving the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) award.",
  "key_points": [
    "Singer Ameng from Spring receives Datukship in Malaysia.",
    "Sultan of Pahang awards Datukship on 67th birthday.",
    "Ameng keeps Datukship secret from family of three."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}