DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FADILLAH HEADS SARAWAK STATE AWARD RECIPIENTS LIST

KUCHING, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, heads the list of recipients of the Sarawak State Honours in conjunction with the 79th Birthday Celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, today.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, was conferred the Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (DA), a rank in the Order of the Star of the Hornbill of Sarawak, which carries the title "Datuk Amar".

Former federal deputy minister and President of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, and the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sarawak, Datuk Richard Wee Liang Huat @ Wee Liang Chiat, received the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), a rank in the Order of the Star of Sarawak, which carries the title "Datuk Seri".

A total of 1,372 individuals were listed to receive state honours in conjunction with the celebration, with five of them receiving the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), a rank in the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak, which carries the title "Datuk".

They consist of four Sarawak Deputy Ministers, namely Datuk Ibrahim Baki, Datuk Henry @ Harry Jinep, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, and Datuk Majang Renggi, as well as the President of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik.

Nine other individuals received the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS) (Order of Meritorious Service to Sarawak), which carries the title "Datu", while another 15 individuals, including three posthumously, were awarded the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) (Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak), which carries the title "Datuk".

Former journalist and recipient of the HAWANA 2024 Journalism Icon Award, the late James Alexander Ritchie, was one of the recipients of the PSBS award.

This year's celebration also lists recipients for the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (JBK) (Companion of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak) (seven recipients), Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (PPC) (Excellent Service Medal) (18 recipients), Pingat Perwira Negeri (PPN) (State Hero Medal) (15 recipients), Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS) (Officer of the Order of the Star of Sarawak) (13 recipients), Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (PBK) (Officer of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak) (134 recipients), Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB) (Meritorious Service Medal) (159 recipients), Ahli Bintang Sarawak (ABS) (Member of the Order of the Star of Sarawak) (109 recipients), Ahli Bintang Kenyalang (ABK) (Member of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak) (157 recipients), Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji (PPT) (Commendable Service Medal) (366 recipients) and Bentara Bintang Sarawak (BBS) (Herald of the Order of the Star of Sarawak) (362 recipients).

-- BERNAMA