KOTA KINABALU: Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg heads the list of 1,373 recipients of Sabah state awards in conjunction with the 71th birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin today.
Johari is among four people being conferred with Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK) award, which carries the title "Datuk Seri Panglima".
Other recipients of SPDK are Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew, Inspector-General of police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and businessman Datuk Seri Kumar Prabakaran.
Eighty-seven people would also be conferred with the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award that carries the title 'Datuk'.
Among the PGDK recipients are Likas assemblyman Datuk Tan Lee Fatt, Inanam assemblyman Datuk Peto Galim, Tanjong Kapor assemblyman Datuk Ben Chong, Banggi assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Mohamarin, as well as Kukusan assemblyman Rina Jainal appointed assemblyman Datul Aliakbar Gulasan.
The PGDK list also includes DCP Datuk Fadil Marsus, SAC Datuk Saiman Kasran and SAC Datuk Mohd Azhar Hamin.
Also receiving the titles are Ministries' permanent secretaries Datuk Leonard Stephen Poyong (State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry), Datuk Maria Chong (Community Development and Well-being Ministry), and Datuk Josie Lai (State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry).
Medical professionals to carry similar 'Datuk' titles are Dr Narenthran Loganathan, Dr Liew Houng Bang, and Dr Benjamin Leong.
Others are Sabah Syarie Judge chief Ahadin Arinen, Sabah Public Works director Datuk Philemon Lajawai and Sabah Fisheries director Datuk Azhar Kassim, journalists Datuk Philip Golingai and Chiew Nai Wen, as well as KadazanDusun Cultural Association women council chairperson Datuk Joanna kitingan.
Meanwhile, the 10 recipients for Justice of Peace are Bakri@Norzaidi Ali Omar, Datuk Ewon Benedick, Datuk Guan Ka Hock, Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam, Juddy Chu Yen Tien, Datuk Kasim Mansor, Koh Siew Boon, Datuk Liew Kim Choong, Yee Tsai Yiew and Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris.
A total of 116 people is conferred with Ahli Setia Darjah Kinabalu ASDK, Darjah Kinabalu ADK (274), Bintang Kinabalu (421), Bintang Setia Kinabalu (320) and Certificate of Honour (144).