DEPARTED NATIONAL HERO
KUCHING: Members of the public are welcome to pay their last respects to departed national hero, the late Datuk Awang Raweng, at Kuching Civic Centre from tomorrow onwards.
The 91-year-old passed away around 2.15pm last Friday at his son’s residence at Taman Padri, Sri Aman.
Tomorrow (Sunday), the body of the deceased is to depart from Sri Aman at 10am and expected to arrive at Kuching Civic Centre around 1pm for the final tribute ceremony.
Members of the public can start paying their last respects at 2pm.
The prayer will be led by a St Thomas Church priest around 6pm.
On Monday (Sept 21), the public can still pay their last respects from 9am onwards. The late Awang will be buried at the Heroes Cemetery (Heroes Memorial) Taman Budaya here two hours later.
Those coming to pay their last respects are advised to wear proper attire such as dark lounge suite or other suitable attire.
The late Awang was a former Iban scout with the 10th Platoon, D Company, First Battallion of the Worchestershire Regiment, who was highly respected for his exploits against communist terrorists in the year 1951.
Awang was the nation’s sole recipient of George Cross — the second highest award in the United Kingdom’s honours system after the Victoria Cross — on Nov 20, 1951.
Apart from the George Cross medal, Awang was also awarded the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS for his Datukship) by the Sarawak government in 2018, Pingat Jasa Malaysia in 2011, General Service Medal in 1918, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953.
He was also conferred the honorary master’s degree in education strategy by Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia in 2015.
