Medals and Honour

Kanang has provided services can be classified as the best, because of that during his lifetime, he had receive many medal to commorate his service. The medals is from Malaysian's Government and Sarawak State Governement.

Military honours and awards

•  Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) (Supreme Gallantry Award)
•  Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) (Star of the Commander of Valour)
•  Pingat Perkhidmatan Am (PPA) (Federation General Service Medal)
•  Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia (Federation Loyal Service Medal)
•  Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysia Service Medal)
•  General Service Medal (1918) (United Kingdom) with "Brunei" clasp (for the participation in Brunei Revolt)
• General Service Medal (1962) (United Kingdom) with "Borneo" clasp (for the participation in Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation)

State honours and awards

•  Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK) (Commander of the Star of the Hornbill of Sarawak) (2011)
• Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS) (Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak-Officer) (1987)

  Kanang and some of his awards or medals.

Death and Funeral

On 3 January 2013, he collapsed while watching television at home in Sungai Apong, Sri Aman after complaining of chest pains. Immediately rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital, he was pronounced dead at the age of 68.Kanang passed away at the age of 68 at the Sarawak General Hospital on Thursday morning after complaining of chest pains. He was buried today (Jan 6) with full military honours at the Heroes’ Grave at Jalan Budaya, Kuching.
The messages of condolences and sympathy have been received by the family of the late Kanang from government leaders and public people too. He will be buried as a national burial. His coffin, draped in the Jalur Gemilang and the colours of the Malaysian Armed Forces, was first brought to the 1st Infantry Division base located at Bukavu Camp in Penrissen for the family members and friends to perform prayers and miring ceremony (offering ceremony), before being brought toKuching Civic Centre for the public to pay their last respects. He was buried at the Heroes' Grave in Jalan Taman Budaya, after the funeral prayers at St.Thomas Cathedral in Kuching.
Among Ibans, Kanang/s legendary acts in the military service is regarded as "raja berani tau serang" which is commensurate with the highest widower fee (number one) for Great War Leader stated below. Otherwise, his temenggong chieftain title entitled him for the fifth widower fee as they have their own Adat which is Adat Tebalu.

Angkatan Tentera Malaysia are doing Funeral for Kanang.

Retirement's Life

Kanang retired after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer. He was the Temenggong (paramount chief) of the Iban in Sri Aman, his place of residence. He was awarded the Officer of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PBS) (Malay: Pegawai Bintang Sarawak) in 1987.

Malaysia’s most decorated war hero Kanang Anak Langkau could have died as a pauper as his military services – helping to liberate Malaya (and later Malaysia) from the communists were not respected as a hero should be until he and few other war heroes made noise complaining that they had been treated shabbily both by the Federal Government and Sarawak State Government.

There are 16 receiver for PGB and SP medal, which is both of it is about bravery. Kanang is one of the. Unfortunately after retire,their contributions were not financially recognized – not even a sen and their welfare were not taken care of, as compared to financial rewards and other perks given to communist terrorists who surrendered.Their contributions were initially not rewarded, not even a sen except they received pensions like other retired civil servants.The heroes were not even invited to attend national day celebrations.

Angered by the ill-treatment, Kanang even refused ‘Datukship’ offered to him saying he was a poor man and could not afford to receive the title of ‘Datukship’.Their woes got the attention of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lubok Antu in Sarawak Mr. Jawah Gerang who raised the issue in Parliament some time in 1980s. Approved by the government, a PGB holder was given a monthly allowance of RM300 and a SP holder RM400.

In 2006, the parliament approved the issue that was brought by delegations of heroes from Sarawak, that is about their allowances, and the parliament give a SP holder receives RM2,000 a month, while a PGB holder receives RM1,900 a month.

For his knowledge in Iban traditions and customs, Kanang was later made a Temenggong for the Iban community of Sri Aman division and last year he was conferred a Datukship by the state government.On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orangutan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong. The baby orangutan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

In 2011, Kanang supervised Operation Mai Pulai (operation Bringing Back). This operation involved the locating and exhumation of the remains of 21 Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers who were killed during the Second Malayan Emergency. Their remains were exhumed from multiple location on the Malay Peninsula and returned to Sarawak where they were ceremonially reburied in July 2011.

Kanang after retire and planting vegetables to support his life.