Mathew Alik
BETONG: The state Public Works Department produced the longest serving civil servant among yesterday’s recipients of loyalty service award (Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia).
Minong @ Mathew Alik, 59, who served the government for 43 years was among 374 civil servants to receive the award from Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Dewan Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan here.
Mathew started as a strorekeeper at the age of 18 in 1968 at the department in Sri Aman. His last post before retiring was an operator attendant in Lubok Antu. He is blessed with four children.
The event, organised by the Chief Minister’s Department, saw recipients of the award from 12 government agencies.
Betong Resident’s and District Office has 13 recipients of the PPS while the Public Works Department (24), Land and Survey Department (8), Agriculture Department (48), Drainage and Irrigation Department (19), Betong District Council (14), Saratok District Council (11), Lubok Antu District Council (23), police (39), Fire and Rescue Service Dept 12), Health Dept (61) and Education Dept (102).
In his keynote address contained in the souvernir booklet, Taib said that the civil service today
needed to be more innovative and creative to ensure that it remain relevant in line with the government transformation programme.
The sacrifices of the civil servants were meaningful as they were rendering their best services to improve the socio-economic status of the people, regardless of their origin – rural or urban areas.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and wife Dato Sri Empiang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani and the state Federal Secretary Datuk Md Yahaya Basimin.