By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 9: Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was conferred the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS) award by Yang di-Pertua Sarawak Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud during an investiture ceremony at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today.
The other five recipients of the award, which carries the title Dato Sri, were Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin, 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.
They were among the 38 recipients on the honours list who received their awards in person today held in conjunction with Taib’s 85th birthday celebration.
Topping the list of recipients for Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak, Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (DA) which carries the title Datuk Amar, was former Dewan Negara’s Speaker Tan Sri Abang Ahmad Urai Datu Hakim Abang Mohideen.
Receiving the same award was former Sarawak’s first cabinet member, the late Dato Sri Pengiran Hipni Pengiran Annu (posthumous).
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Abdullah Saidol and James Ling Lu Kiong were the only two recipients of the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK) award, which carries the title Datuk.
The Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title Datu,was awarded to 13 recipients including Kuching Division Resident Sherrina Hussaini, Sri Aman Division Resident Indit Bangai, Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat, Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development permanent secretary Edwin Abit, former State Education director Dr Azhar Ahmad, and Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman @Hussaini.
Taib also conferred the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title Dato, to 17 recipients including Sarawak’s diving queen Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Dewan Negara Senators Dr Zaidi Suhaili and Dr Nuing Jeluing, Lingga assemblywoman Simoi Peri, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu, Sarawak Deputy Commissioner of Police Mancha Ata, former State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hing and Chinese leader Chai Vook Tok.
Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamed Asfia Awang Nasar, Deputy Chief Ministers, Ministers, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion and other dignitaries were also present at the occassion. — DayakDaily
