National hero Major Michael Riman Bugat honoured with new granite tombstone

Uggah (sixth left), Abdul Karim (fifth left), Dr Rundi (seventh left), Stephen (fourth left), and others during the ceremony to commemorate the newly fabricated tombstone of the late Michael at the Kuching Heroes’ Cemetery on Jan 26, 2024.

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Jan 26: National hero Major Michael Riman Bugat’s burial plot is now fabricated with a new granite tombstone at the Kuching Heroes’ Cemetery.

The late Michael, who was bestowed the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) award on June 6, 1984, for showing extraordinary bravery in fighting the enemy at Gopeng, Perak, in 1977, died at Sarawak General Hospital on Aug 7, 2023, aged 71.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that the late Michael is a national hero who was highly respected with a humble but firm character in carrying out the tasks entrusted to him.

Uggah added that his fabricated tombstone is engraved with the words ‘Rimau Garang Batang Malaya, Dengah Mudah Diberi Raja’.

“For his family members and army veterans who are still around, we need to learn from his (Michael’s) character and outstanding success.

“We need to continue the struggle together and contribute to the security and development of Sarawak in any way we can,” he said in his speech at the ceremony today, adding that they should embody the well-known slogan, ‘agi idup agi ngelaban’ (fight till the final breath).

Minister of Food Industry Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; and Lt-General (R) Datuk Stephen Mundaw were present. — DayakDaily