By Maryam Nasir
KUCHING, 9 October 2021: The country’s diving queen, Pandelela Rinong, was awarded the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) with the title of Datuk in conjunction with the 85th birthday of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, today.
The 28-year-old Olympic silver and bronze medalist was among 1,326 recipients of honorary degrees and medals.
Leading the list of recipients of the honorary degree is the former Speaker of the Senate, Tan Sri Abang Ahmad Urai Abang Mohideen who received the degree of Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (DA) which carries the title of Datuk Amar.
Also receiving the same honorary degree, the former member of Sarawak’s first Cabinet after the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the late Datuk Seri Pengiran Hipni Pengiran Annu.
Six others received the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS) which carries the title of Datuk Seri.
They are the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri; Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Sarawak Minister of Transport, Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Sarawak State Attorney General, Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid; Sarawak State Financial Secretary, Datuk Dr. Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, and businessman, Datuk Kho Kak Beng. ***