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KUCHING: The war hero Iban Awang Raweng, 104, a former member of the elite trackers Iban during the British colonial era who died yesterday at 2.15pm at his son’s residence in Taman Padri, Sri Aman, was will grant a state funeral.
The news was confirmed by his son, Panggau Awang, who said that his father’s remains would be at his home today before being taken to Dewan Suarah Kuching to remain in state for people to pay their last respects.
“On Monday, the remains will be taken to St. Thomas Church, Kuching, before being interred at the Monument to Heroes, Taman Budaya, Kuching,” he said.
It came to Malaya as a ranger tracker around December 1950 before being absorbed into the Worcestershire and Sherwood Forest Regiment.
For his dedicated service, the Queen of England awarded him the George Cross, named after King George VI, for his bravery in November 1951.
It was in recognition of his fight against 50 communists in Kluang Forest, Johor, alone while defending a wounded British soldier, despite sustaining serious injuries himself.
Awang was reported to have flown to London 20 times to attend the meeting of the First Battalion of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Forest Regiments.
Awang’s presence at the event was not like a regular guest. Instead, he was considered a dignitary and was celebrated as a hero.
He also had the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family at Buckingham Palace, as well as receiving a special allowance of £ 100 (RM494) each month from the British government.
She also received the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak Award, bearing the title Datuk of Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Abdul Taib Mahmud in 2018.
He also received the Malaysian Service Medal in appreciation for the sacrifices he made for the good of the country.
