The Most Excellent Order of the Star of Sarawak(lit: 'Darjah Yang Amat Gemilang Bintang Sarawak') was established by

Charles Vyner Brooke Vyner, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG, full name Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke (26 September 1874 – 9 May 1963) was the third and last White Rajah of the Raj of Sarawak. Early life The son of Charles Brooke and his wife Margaret de Windt ( Ranee Ma ...

, The Rajah of Sarawak, on 26 September 1928 as the highest

order of chivalry An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order (distinction), order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic Military order (religious society), military orders of the ...

within the

Raj of Sarawak (While I breathe, I hope) , national_anthem = '' Gone Forth Beyond the Sea'' , capital = Kuching , common_languages = English, Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, Sarawak Malay, Chinese etc. , government_type = Absol ...

.Sarawak Government Almanac,Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad (Cawangan Sarawak) The motto of the order was "Haraplah Sa-lagi Bernafas", which was also the Sarawak state motto, a translation of the Latin phrase

Dum Spiro Spero ''Dum spiro spero'', which translates to "While I breathe, I hope", is a Latin phrase of indeterminate origin. It is the motto of various places and organisations, including the U.S. state of South Carolina. Derivation The sense of ''dum spir ...

, which literally means "As long as I breathe, I hope". When instituted the order had a dual status as a

dynastic order of knighthood A dynastic order, monarchical order, or house order is an order under royal patronage. Such an order is bestowed by, as a legitimate , a sovereign or the head of a once-sovereign ruling family. These are often considered part of the cultural ...

as well as a state order with the Rajah as the Sovereign of the order. It had a bright yellow ribbon with a black line down the centre. When Sarawak became of a British colony in 1946 the Rajah stopped making appointments and with the death of the last known recipient,

Elizabeth Choy Elizabeth Choy Su-Moi ( née Yong; 29 November 1910 – 14 September 2006) was a Singaporean educator and councillor who is regarded as a war heroine in Singapore. Along with her husband, Choy Khun Heng, she supplied medicine, money and mess ...

in 2006, the order became dormant. In 1964, the post-independence government of Sarawak created a new order with a simpler name ''The Most Illustrious Order of the Star of Sarawak'' (''Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak''), and in 1988, they renamed it as the ''Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak'', or ''

Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak The ''Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak'' (Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak) is the highest state order in the state of Sarawak. It is conferred to those who rendered excellent service towards the development of the state of S ...

'' in Malay. However, the revived order has no connection whatsoever with the previous order except for the name.

Composition

The Order consisted of: * Sovereign * Grand Master The three ordinary ranks of members are: * Master (MSS)-consists of breast star, sash, and sash badge. * Companion (CSS)-a badge worn from a necklet.http://www.rarusnet.com/popup_image.php?pID=13900 Photo of the Companion medal,rarusnet.com * Officer (OSS)-a badge worn from a medal ribbon on the left breast.

References

External links

Star of Sarawak {{Orders-medals-stub