Mahathir heads Sarawak honours list

KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad heads the list of 308 recipients of state awards and medals in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Sarawak's independence within Malaysia today.  

Dr Mahathir is the sole recipient of the newly created Sarawak's highest award, Darjah Satria Bintang Sarawak (SBs), which carries the title Pehin. 

Two others, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the wife of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah, were awarded the Datuk Patinggi Bintang Kenyalang which carries the title Datuk Patinggi. 

Eleven people are awarded the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBs), which carries the title Datuk Sri. They are state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Agriculture Minister Datuk Mohd Effendi Norwawi. 

Sarawak Infrastructure and Communications Development Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zahidi Zainuddin, Finance Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Shamsudin Hitam, Petronas president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hassan Merican, former Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik and Datuk Seri Dr Zainul Ariff Hussain from the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit in the Prime Minister's Department. 

There are six recipients of the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK) award, which carries the title Datuk. 

They are Rural Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Abdul Rashid, Universiti Teknologi Mara vice chancellor Datuk Seri Prof Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah, Datuk Sharum Yub, Dr Tan Yaw Kwang, Hajah Raziah Mahmud and Datuk Zaharah Shaari from the Transport Ministry. 

Twelve people are conferred the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBs).  

Among them are Baram Member of Parliament Jacob Sagan, Sarawak Chief Imam Ustaz Nahrawi Abdul Rahman, Senator Benedit Bujang Tembak, and politician and businessman Peter Minos. 

Three receive the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBs), six receive the Johan Bintang Sarawak (JBs), six others receive the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (JBK) and 22 receive the Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBs). 

Forty-six people are awarded the Ahli Bintang Sarawak (ABs), 84 receive the Bentara Bintang Sarawak (BBs), 16 receive the Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (PBK), 15 receive the Ahli Bintang Kenyalang, 27 receive the Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB) (Silver) and 49 others receive the Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji (PPT) (Bronze). – Bernama