5 air ambulance helicopter crash victims among 1,350 recipients of Sarawak honours

KUCHING, 10 OCTOBER 2026 —

KUCHING – Five individuals who perished in the crash of a Sarawak Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter in September are to be posthumously awarded the Pingat Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS), according to the state government.

The posthumous awards will be conferred upon the late Alexson Adit Henry, Debra Moset, Jessie Paya Jok, Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, and pilot Zainol Afiq Bee Sham. Their respective heirs are set to receive the medals on their behalf.

This recognition underscores the state’s acknowledgment of the service provided by the FDS, a critical component of remote healthcare delivery in the region, particularly in the aftermath of the tragic incident that claimed their lives earlier this year.

Leading the list of recipients for the highest state honour, the Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak, Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS), which carries the title of Datuk Seri, is Datuk Azizah Nawawi. She is noted as the first woman to be appointed as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

Joining her in receiving this top-tier distinction are the President of the Dewan Negara, Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah; veteran politician Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz; and prominent businessman Tay Ah Ching. The inclusion of figures from the judiciary, federal politics, and the private sector highlights the breadth of contributions recognized by the state administration.

For the Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak, Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK), which confers the title of Datuk, the recipients include Court of Appeal Judge Dean Wayne Daly. Also receiving this honour are Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Datuk Idris Buang, and the Senior Private Secretary to the Governor of Sarawak, Datuk Seri Syed Hamzah Syed Paee.

These appointments reflect a mix of judicial, legislative, and executive leadership within the state’s governance structure.

In the category of the Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS), which carries the title of Datu, six senior government officers of the Sarawak state government were selected. While the specific names of these six officers were not detailed in the immediate announcement, the award serves to recognize dedicated public service within the state bureaucracy. This tier of honour is typically reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to state administration and development.

The Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak, Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS), also carrying the title of Datuk, was bestowed upon 22 other individuals. Notable among them is the Director of Bukit Aman, Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, and Shariman Jamil, the Chief Executive Officer of SMD Semiconductor.

The inclusion of a senior police official and a technology sector executive indicates the state’s recognition of contributions in both law enforcement and the emerging semiconductor industry, a sector of growing strategic importance in Malaysia’s economic landscape.

In a distinct category, the Pingat Johan Bintang Sarawak (JBS) was awarded to Dr Toman Mamora, a prominent figure in Sarawak journalism. The same medal was also conferred posthumously on Brigadier General Philip Lee Khui Fui, the former Commanding Officer of the 3rd Ranger Regiment. Lee’s award recognizes his involvement in military operations in Nonok, linking the state’s honours system to its historical and security context.

The series of events marking the Governor’s 80th birthday commenced on Thursday with a thanksgiving ceremony. The celebrations continued on Saturday with a grand mass gathering at Padang Merdeka in Kuching, followed by the state honours ceremony at Astana Negeri. The festivities are scheduled to conclude on Sunday with a State Banquet, a people’s concert at Padang Merdeka, and a tea reception, bringing together the various recipients and public figures in a final communal observance.