KUCHING: Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin yesterday bestowed state awards and medals to 108 recipients in a special investiture ceremony held at Grand Millenium Ballroom, ParkCity Everly Hotel in Bintulu.

HONOURED: Watson Bangau receiving the PBS from Tun Salahuddin.

Leading the list of the recipients was Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Affandi Keli, who received the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (JBK), according to a press statement issued in Bintulu yesterday.

Two were awarded Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (PPC).

They were Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Safri Zainuddin, and the director of Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department, Sutin Shamat alias Sahmat.

Given the Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS) award were political secretary to the Chief Minister Watson Bangau Jonathan Renang, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Kidurong’s branch head cum businessman Haidar Khan Asghar Khan and Sarawak Administrative Officer Kiprawi Mohd Mokhtar as well as Suhaili Abidin and Thomas Ng.

Three received the Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (PBK).

They were president of Orang Ulu Association (Ouna) Bintulu Peter Jalong, SEDC legal officer John W Chamberlin Sirau and director of ICT Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department William Patrick Nyigor.

Meanwhile, 13 others were awarded Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB), 22, Ahli Bintang Sarawak (ABS), 19, Ahli Bintang Kenyalang (ABK), 20, Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji (PPT) and 23, Bentara Bintang Sarawak (BBS).

Among those present were the wife of the Head of State Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah, assistant ministers namely Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, John Sikie Tayai and Dr Stephen Rundi Utom as well as Bintulu Resident Mohd Hanis Mahlie.