SELANGAU: The late Penghulu Imban Medan’s family is grateful to the Sarawak government for bestowing upon the late warrior a posthumous Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) award, which confers the title ‘Dato’.
His granddaughter Roseline Anthony Ajang, said this is the second recognition that has been given to her late grandfather apart from naming a primary school in Sekuau after him which is Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Penghulu Imban.
“We are proud and thankful as (this proves that) his sacrifices for the people under his care which I saw myself are recognised by the Sarawak government.
“Only through such recognition we can remember him, and acknowledge his sacrifices,” she said when met by reporters after the thanksgiving ceremony for the award as well as the 51st anniversary of the dark history.
The ceremony which was performed at the late Penghulu Imban last resting place at Tanah Perkuburan Iban Skim Sekuau here yesterday was attended by Federal Minister of National Unity Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
Meanwhile, also attending the ceremony, Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang expressed his gratitude to the Sarawak government for its recognition to Penghulu Imban’s contribution during the communist era.
“This is a good sign to appreciate the country’s former fighters who have supported the government to fight communist terrorists,” he said.
Despite years have passed, the sad tragedy of the late Iban community leader’s death who was killed during an attack by the communists on an Iban longhouse in Ulu Oya on Feb 22, 1972, is always remembered not only by the family but also by its residents.
Following the attack, residents in the area were resettled in an area now known as Sekuau, about 45 kilometres from Sibu town.
The late Penghulu Imban was given the award during the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 86th birthday celebration in Miri, and the award was received by Roseline.
