Etin, a recipient of the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa medal, died at the Miri Hospital on Tuesday from lung cancer. The retired corporal was 83.

He was buried after a funeral service at St Thomas Church.

The Sarawak government said Etin was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa medal for heroism in a battle against a group of communist insurgents in April 1972, during which he managed to kill one of them.

He was bestowed the medal by the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, on July 6, 1972.

At Etin’s funeral, Sarawak deputy premier Douglas Uggah Embas said the current generation should appreciate the sacrifices and services of the nation’s heroes who fought to defend the country.

“Without the sacrifices of the previous heroes, the younger generation would not be able to experience the country’s prosperity,” he said.