By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Sept 21: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have expressed their condolences to the family members of the late Iban warrior Datuk Awang Raweng.
His Majesty in a social media posting on the official page of the Royal Palace Facebook said he is saddened by the loss of Awang who passed away last Friday evening.
As the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, His Majesty really appreciates the services, contributions and sacrifices of the late Awang for ensuring the security of the country and the community, Al-Sultan Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, Istana Negara noted the late Awang was one of the few Iban Trackers who arrived in Peninsular Malaysia around December 1950 before being absorbed into the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
The Palace said the late Awang was awarded the George Cross, named after King George VI, for gallantry by the Queen of England in November 1951 for his dedicated service.
It noted that the award was in recognition of his fight against 50 communists in the Kluang forest, Johor alone while defending an injured British soldier, despite sustaining serious injuries himself.
The late Awang was also reported to have flown to London 20 times to attend the reunion of the First Battalion of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiments and his presence at the event was not as a regular guest, instead he was considered a dignitary and was celebrated as a hero.
It was reported that the late Awang was given the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family at Buckingham Palace, in addition to receiving a special allowance of £100 every month from the British government.
The late Awang was also the recipient of the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak award, which carries the title ‘Datuk’ by Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud in 2018.
He also received the Malaysian Service Medal in appreciation of the sacrifices he made for the sake of the country. —DayakDaily
