Sarawak honours five helicopter crash victims posthumously

KUCHING: Five victims of the Air Medical Services (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, on Sept 8 have been posthumously awarded the Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS) in recognition of their service and sacrifice.

They were Alexon Adit Henry, Debra Moset, Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, Jessie Paya Jok and Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham.

The awards were presented in conjunction with the 80th birthday celebration of Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today.

A total of 1,350 individuals received state honours, decorations and medals at the ceremony.

Leading the list was Sabah and Sarawak Chief Judge Datuk Azizah Nawawi, who received the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), which carries the title Datuk Seri.

Also receiving the PNBS were Yang di-Pertua Dewan Negara Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) pro-chancellor Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz and ABM Fujiya Berhad chairman Datuk Tay Ah Ching.

Four individuals received the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), which carries the title Datuk. They were Court of Appeal judge Dean Wayne Daly, Sarawak Deputy Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang and senior private secretary to the Sarawak governor Datuk Seri Syed Hamzah Syed Paie.

Meanwhile, six individuals received the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title Datu. They included Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick, Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat, Sarawak Islamic Religious Department director Ustaz Mual Suaud and Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) general manager Ts Dr Peter Morin Michael Paong.

Another 22 individuals received the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title Datuk. They included senators Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol and Susan Chemerai Anding, and Krian assemblyman Friday Belik.

Also among the recipients were UiTM Sarawak rector Prof Dr Firdaus Abdullah, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, Sarawak Education Department director Omar Mahli and Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah.

Bukit Aman Management Department director Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, First Infantry Division commander Major General Mohd Sobirin Mohd Yusof and SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Shariman Jamil also received the PSBS.