KOTA KINABALU: Newly-appointed Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk David Wong Dak Wang and new Sabah state secretary Datuk Hashim Paijan heads the 65th birthday celebrations of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

The two received the Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK), the state's highest honour which carries the title "Datuk Seri Panglima" in conjunction with the celebrations on Saturday (Oct 6).

A total of 1,158 people will be honoured with various state awards.

International Trade and Industries Minister Darell Leiking, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamadddin Ketapi, and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Azis Jamman were among the 65 awarded the state's second-highest honour, Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK), which carries the title "Datuk".

New state ministers led by deputy chief ministers Datuk Jaujan Sambakong and Christina Liew were among the recipients of the PGDK together fellow state cabinet ministers – Datuk Peter Anthony, Stephen Wong, Junz Wong, Ewon Benedict and Frankie Fung.

Two state assistant ministers – Datuk Jimmy Wong and Datuk Uda Sulai – were also conferred the PGDK.

Others to receive the PGDK were Sabah Attorney General Zaleha Rose, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah, Sabah Immigration director Musa Sulaiman, the army's former 5th Infantry Brigade Commander Brig Jen Datuk Mohd Anuar Rijaludin, Esscom's deputy commander Brig Jen Hamdan Ismail and Esscom intelligence chief Sr Asst Comm Hassim Justin.

Senior state and federal civil servants to be conferred the PGDK were Janet Chee and Datu Rosmadi Sulai, Janice Lim Fung Ha, Datu Rosmadi Sulai, Kaim Kalimin, Madiyen Layapan, outgoing Sabah Federal Officer, Nor Rizan Mohd Thani, state Economic Planning head Ruji Ubi.

Yayasan Sabah's new director Datuk Jamalul Kiram Zakariah as well as prominent local lawyers Alex Decena and Maureen Lind also received the PGDK.

A total of 119 were conferred the Ahli Darjah Setia Kinabalu (ASDK). The recipients included 25 newly-elected assemblymen and MPs, some of whom are assistant ministers.

Twelve people were conferred the Justice of Peace (JP). A total of 252 received the Ahli Darjah Kinabalu (ADK) 234 Bintang Setia Kinabalu (BSK), 333 Bintang Kinabalu (BK) and 142 Certificate of Honour.

A special parade would be held at Padang Merdeka here at 7am Saturday and will be followed by the conferring of the awards at Istana Negeri here.