By Karen Bong and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 9: Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin head the list of 1,326 recipients who will receive awards and medals in conjunction with the 85th birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud in an investiture ceremony at Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex today.
Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Youth and Sports, and Lee are conferred the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), which carries the title Dato Sri.
Four other individuals will also be awarded similar awards. They are Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Nancy Shukri, State Attorney-General Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid, State Financial Secretary Datu Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar and KKB Engineering Berhad chairman Dato Kho Kak Beng.
Two notable figures — Tan Sri Abang Ahmad Urai Datu Hakim Abang Mohideen and the late Dato Sri Pengiran Hipni Pengiran Annu (posthumously) — are conferred the Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (DA) which carries the title Datuk Amar.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Abdullah Saidol and James Ling Lu Kiong are the only two individuals conferred the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), which carries the title Datuk.
Thirteen civil servants have been awarded the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title Datu, including Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat and Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman @ Hussaini.
Seventeen individuals will be conferred the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title Dato, including Sarawak’s diving queen Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Lingga assemblywoman Simoi Peri, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu, former State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hing and Chinese leader Chai Vook Tok.
Seven individuals were awarded the Johan Bintang Sarawak (JBS) including assemblymen Dennis Ngau (Telang Usang), Aidel Lariwoo (Sadong Jaya), Wilson Nyabong Ijang (Pelagus) and Razaili Gapor (Beting Maro).
Sixteen other individuals received the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (JBK) including national power weightlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin.
Four civil servants were awarded the prestigious Johan Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (JPC). They are Abd Rahman Sebli Logo @Senusi, Nicholas Sia Yit Shing, Hang Tuah Merawin and Samat Junai.
Meanwhile, 18 civil servants were awarded Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Gold) (PPC), while 44 individuals – Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS), 101 individuals – Pingat Bintang Kenyalang (PBK), 177 individuals – Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (Silver) (PPB), 253 individuals – Ahli Bintang Sarawak (ABS), 155 – Ahli Bintang Kenyalang (ABK), 260 – Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji (Bronze) (PPT), and 251 – Bentara Bintang Sarawak (BBS). — DayakDaily
