By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 10: Sarawak Head of State (TYT) Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar conferred State honours on 35 recipients during an investiture ceremony held in conjunction with his 80th official birthday celebration at Dewan Istiadat, Astana Negeri, today.
The ceremony was attended by his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and Abang Johari’s daughter, Dayang Norjihan Abang Johari.
Four recipients were conferred the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), which carries the title Dato Sri. They were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Azizah Nawawi, Dewan Negara president Dato’ Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Universiti Teknologi MARA pro-chancellor and former Kalaka assemblyman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, and ABM Fujiya Berhad chairman Datuk Tay Ah Ching @ Tay Chin Kin.
Three recipients received the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), which carries the title Datuk. They were Court of Appeal judge Dean Wayne Daly, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, and Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Idris Buang.
Six recipients were conferred the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title Datu. They were Morshidi Fredrick, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak; Dzulkornain Masron, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak; Dominic Chunggat, director of the Sarawak Agriculture Department; Dr Angelia Liew San Chuin, director of the Sarawak Climate and Energy Diplomacy Unit under the Premier’s Department; Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) general manager Dr Peter Morin Michael Paong; and Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) director Mual Suaud.
Meanwhile, the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title Dato, was conferred on 22 recipients.
They included Bukit Aman Management Department director and former Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, First Infantry Division commander Major General Mohd Sobirin Mohd Yusof, senators Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol and Susan Chemerai Anding, Krian assemblyman Friday Belik, and community advocate Datin Azerina Mohd Arip.
Others were Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah, Sarawak Education Department director Omar Mahli, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak rector Prof Firdaus Abdullah, Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Sarawak director Abang Ehsan Abang Abu Bakar, Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund (SSWFF) chief executive officer Abang Rahmat Yusuf, and SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Shariman Jamil.
The remaining recipients were senior legal practitioner John Ko Wai Seng, Sarawak Energy Berhad executive vice-president for project delivery Lau Kim Swee, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus pro-vice-chancellor and chief executive officer Prof Lau Hieng Ho, developer Sim Yaw Hang, businessman Kong Chiong Ung, Kuching Malay community leader Temenggong Abdullah Jamil, Samarahan Malay community leader Temenggong Chek Bujang, and Serian Bidayuh community leader Temenggong Henry Bujang Sendan.
The late Dato Sibat Buyong, a former community leader, was also named a posthumous recipient of the PSBS, with the award accepted by Ruth Sibat Nur Mithali Abdullah.
The proceedings began after the Registrar of the Orders sought approval to commence the investiture, followed by a prayer led by Sarawak Grand Imam Dato Haji Mustapha Kamal Ahmad Fauzi.
The ceremony concluded with Wan Junaidi and Fauziah departing to the national anthem, “Negaraku”, and Sarawak’s State anthem, “Ibu Pertiwiku”. A banquet was held afterwards.
The full Sarawak State Honours and Awards 2026 list comprises 1,350 recipients across various categories of honours, titles and medals. — DayakDaily
