KOTA KINABALU – Former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani led the list of 1,209 recipients of awards in conjunction with the 70th official birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin today.
Acryl, who is 62 years old and currently serves as Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd chairman, is one of two who is receiving the highest award – the Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu, which carries the title “Datuk Seri Panglima”.
Datuk Tang Yong Chew, president of the Taiwan University Alumni Association of Malaysia, is the other recipient of the same award.
Meanwhile, 11 Sabah reps are among 88 recipients of the second-highest award, the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK), which carries the “Datuk” title.
Among them are the state deputy minister of human resources, Mustapha Sakmud; the state deputy minister of agriculture and food security, Chan Foong Hin; the state deputy minister of science, technology and innovation, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup; and Tawau MP Lo Su Fui.
Sabah assemblymen who were awarded the Datuk title include Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang), Hendrus Anding (Tandek), Jonnybone J. Kurum (Telupid), Mokran Ingkat (Sg Manila), Norazlinah Arif (Kunak), Samad Jambri (Labuk), and George Hiew Vun Zin (Karamunting).
Ceasar Mandela Malakun, the political secretary to the chief minister of Sabah, is the youngest recipient of PGDK this year at the age of 33.
Other recipients of the award include Kuala Lumpur CID chief Habibi Majinji and Sabah Education Department director Raisin Saidin.
The awards list also includes eight recipients of Jaksa Pendamai, as well as 118 Ahli Setia Darjah Kinabalu, 228 Ahli Darjah Kinabalu, 281 Bintang Setia Kinabalu, 310 Bintang Kinabalu and 174 Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji. – October 7, 2023