By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 8: A total of 43 out of 846 recipients were conferred State awards and medals by the Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in an investiture ceremony at Meritz Hotel in Miri today.
Held in conjunction with Taib’s 86th official birthday celebration, the ceremony commenced with the conferment of the Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (DA), which carries the title Datuk Amar, to Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Dato Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and State Secretary Dato Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
The ceremony continued with the conferment of the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), which carries the title Dato Sri, to five recipients namely Federal Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Army Chief General Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain, Sarawak Business Federation president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Abang Openg, former Igan MP Datuk Abdul Wahab Dolah, and businessman Datuk Wong Kie Yik.
The Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), which carries the title Datuk, was bestowed upon seven recipients. They are Deputy Education and Innovation Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee, Deputy Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister Datu Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Dato Gerawat Gala, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Deputy Intergrity and Ombudsman Minister Dato Murshid Juanda Jaya, Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Misnu Taha and Petronas president and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz.
Ten civil servants received the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title Datu.
They are Deputy State Attorney-General Saferi Ali, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts permanent secretary Hii Chang Kii and Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi) director Dr Lulie Melling Joshua Melling, Sarawak Premier Office Administrative Unit director Nicholas Sia, Samarahan Division Resident Brahim Lumpu, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation general manager Abdul Hadi Abdul Kadir, Sarawak Protocol, Ceremonial and Event Management Unit director Azlan Ali Badri, senior state counsel John Wayne Chamberlin Sirau, Land Custody and Development Authority general manager Monaliza Zaidel and Mohamad Junaidi Mohidin from Pejabat Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri.
His Excellency also conferred the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title Dato, to 18 recipients including a posthumous award to the late Penghulu Imban Medan, an Iban headman and warrior from Ulu Oya who was killed during the communist insurgency.
Others who also received the PSBS award were Baram MP Anyi Ngau, Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab, Madehi Kolek, Su’ut Suhaili, Khaider Ahmad Zaidel, Andy Chia Chu Fatt, Daniel Jubang Kanyan, Nunong Dandan, Ivan Tan Book Kiat, Dr Jeniri Amir, Sim Kheng Boon, Sapuan @ Sapuan Ahmad, Geng Heyok Chiang @ Heng Hock Cheng, Dr Anderson Tiong Ing Heng, Fabian Wong Boon Soon, Georgina Apphia Ngau, Amir Abdillah Shabarruddin and Alhazmi Saeed Nowifeas.
Also present at the ceremony were Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, senior ministers, deputy ministers and other dignitaries. — DayakDaily
