Bishop Danald Jute and wife Julita Jack Sungul.
MIRI: It was an honour for the Miri Malay Community Leaders Council (Makmum) when their advisor Temenggong Abdul Rahman Fadzail was awarded Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) that carries the title ‘Dato’.
Temenggong Abdul Rahman was among the ten recipients of the award during the investiture ceremony at Mega Hotel yesterday.
Abdul Rahman expressed his gratitude to Sarawak government for such prestigious recognition of his community contributions in welfare and religion.
“I’ve never expected to receive such recognition and I give a big thank you to the state government especially the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib for including me in the list of recipients of state honours and awards in conjunction with his Excellency’s 83rd birthday this year.”
Being a Malay community leader, he is not only in charge of Miri as he has also to look after the Malay people’s interest at Suai in Niah and as far as Baram area.
Thus, he hoped for the community leaders under his responsibility to be more alert to the needs of the people in their respective areas.
“Let us be the eyes and ears to the state government. It is our responsibility to be the bridge for communication and feedback from the people at the ground to the state government.”
He admitted the change in political scenario after Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over the federal government administration had posed a tough challenge to the community leaders in carrying out their tasks.
For one, the PH’s move to set up village community management council (MPKK) in all villages in Sarawak had truly confused the people on the ground, he said.
However, he took the MPKK as a challenge and said there was a need for the community leaders to stay united.
“We have to stay focused as our appointment is under the Sarawak government jurisdiction.”
Another recipient, the Chief Minister’s Department’s administration unit director Antonio Kahti Galis thanked the state government for conferring him the award of Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak (DJBS) that carries the title Datu.
Temenggong Abdul Rahman Fadzail and wife.
Antonio attributed the state honour that he received to his family as well as three associations that he led as president – Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak Malaysia, Sarawak Bisaya Association and Miri Division Rugby Union.
Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei, Danald Jute, who received the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang award that carries the ‘Datuk’ is deeply grateful to the state government for bestowing him the state’s prestigious award.
“I am humbled to be given this honour by the state, mindful that I don’t deserve it in the least.
“It is accepted in the name of the whole body of the Church, and all that the Church has done and will continue to do to make a better Sarawak and Malaysia. Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.”
He felt it is great that the state government recognises the positive contributions of the Church – through schools, social services and meeting spiritual needs.
“The Church will continue to play her role faithfully by contributing positively towards nation building. Receiving this award is a huge honour as well as a huge responsibility.”