Abang Johari honoured with Sri Pertiwi Leadership Award by PKMS

KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been awarded the Sri Pertiwi Leadership Award by the Sarawak Malay National Association (PKMS) in recognition of his contributions to the development and advancement of Sarawak.

PKMS president Dr Wan Ali Tuanku Madhi highlighted that this is the first award PKMS has ever presented to a Sarawak leader.

“This award is given in recognition of Abang Johari’s tireless efforts in developing and elevating Sarawak to a more progressive and prosperous level.

“Throughout the seven years of Abang Johari’s leadership, Sarawak has advanced and achieved a prestigious standing, successfully raising Bumi Kenyalang’s profile on the international stage.

“This includes impactful initiatives to position Sarawak as a developed state by 2030,” he said during PKMS’ 85th Anniversary Dinner held at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here last night (Oct 26).

Earlier in the event, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar officiated at the launch of a pictorial book on Sarawak Malay customs and culture, titled ‘Buku Adat Perkahwinan Melayu Sarawak’.

Abang Johari (fourth from right) receives the Sri Pertiwi Leadership Award from Dr Wan Ali.

The book includes detailed insights into the traditional wedding practices, spanning pre-ceremony to post-wedding stages, documented through field research.

Furthermore, the event also announced that the PKMS Headquarters, located at Lot 123, Jalan Patingan here, will be completed by March next year.

The 1.78-acre site was initially purchased in 1952 by the PKMS Women’s Movement for 16,000 Sarawak Dollars and is currently under an 18-month redevelopment project.

The new headquarters will feature a multipurpose hall with a seating capacity of 1,200, PKMS administrative offices, seminar rooms, and meeting rooms, providing a modern space for PKMS activities and community events.

Also in attendance were Wan Junaidi’s wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.

Abang Johari (seated, second from left) and Wan Junaidi during PKMS’ 85th Anniversary Dinner.