A family man till the end
Iban war hero’s final wish was for kin to take care of each other
Despite being known for his acts of valour, the late Iban war hero Sjn Datuk Awang Raweng was a family man to the last.
His final words to his family were to remind them to look after one another, according to his daughter Doris Awang.
“My father told us to live together in peace and harmony, not to quarrel but to take care of each other,” she said after his burial at the Heroes Grave here yesterday.
Doris, 63, also thanked the state government, Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs Department for according a state funeral and military burial to Awang.
“We are very thankful for all the arrangements they made for my father and recognising him as a hero,” she said.
Awang, who was the nation’s sole recipient of the George Cross gallantry award from the British government, passed away at the age of 91 in Sri Aman last Friday.
His remains were brought to the Civic Centre here on Sunday for a state funeral before the burial.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who gave the eulogy, said Awang was a hero in every sense and who lived up to the Iban war cry Agi idup agi ngelaban (As long as I live, I shall fight).
He said Awang showed “immense courage and bravery” during a fight with communists in Johor on May 27, 1951, which led to him being awarded with the George Cross, Britain’s highest civilian honour.
In the incident, Awang saved the life of an injured British soldier despite being shot himself during an ambush by about 50 communists.
According to the George Cross citation, he disregarded his own wounds to defend the injured soldier and drove off several attacks from the communists, even defying them with a grenade in his hand.
Uggah also said Awang was a visionary who believed in education and donated part of his land for the expansion of SK Nanga Skrang, a primary school near his longhouse.
“His demise is a tremendous loss to our nation. We have lost an illustrious hero who sacrificed selflessly for his country and a family man who gave back to his community, without expecting anything in return,” he added.
Also present at the funeral was British High Commission defence adviser Group Captain Simon Hindmarsh, who conveyed condolences
Always in
memory: A family member holding Awang’s photograph at the state funeral at Heroes Memorial in Taman Budaya, Kuching. — Bernama
and respects on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and the British government.
He described Awang as a “tremendously courageous soldier” who displayed incredible bravery in 1951.
“Once we heard of the passing of Sjn Awang (on Sunday), this became the absolute top priority for me to come over to Sarawak to pay my respects and convey my condolences, not just personally but on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, who has met Awang on several occasions,” he said.