FIVE people killed in a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, near Ulu Baram, on Sept 8 have been honoured posthumously by Sarawak for their service and sacrifice.
The late Alexon Adit Henry, Debra Moset, Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, Jessie Paya Jok and Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham were each awarded the Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS), the fifth-ranking honour in the state’s awards system.
Their recognition formed part of the conferment of state honours, decorations and medals on 1,350 recipients today in conjunction with the 80th birthday celebrations of Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Sabah and Sarawak Chief Judge Datuk Azizah Nawawi topped the list of recipients, receiving the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), which carries the title Datuk Seri.
Other PNBS recipients included Dewan Negara president Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Universiti Teknologi Mara pro-chancellor Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz and ABM Fujiya Bhd chairman Datuk Tay Ah Ching.
Four recipients received the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), which carries the title Datuk. They were Court of Appeal judge Dean Wayne Daly; Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; Sarawak Deputy State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Idris Buang; and the Governor’s senior private secretary, Datuk Seri Syed Hamzah Syed Paie.
Six individuals received the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title Datu. They included Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Ministry permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick, Sarawak Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat, Sarawak Islamic Religious Department director Mual Suaud and Sarawak Research and Development Council general manager Dr Peter Morin Michael Paong.
Another 22 individuals received the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title Dato’. They included senators Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol and Susan Chemerai Anding, and Krian assemblyman Friday Belik.
Other PSBS recipients included UiTM Sarawak rector Prof Dr Firdaus Abdullah, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, Sarawak Education Department director Omar Mahli, Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah, Bukit Aman Management Department director Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, First Infantry Division Malaysia commander Major-General Mohd Sobirin Mohd Yusof and SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Shariman Jamil.
The PSBS was also conferred posthumously on the late Sibat Buyong. - October 10, 2026
