Halimah receiving her PPS medal from Abang Johari (centre) while Morshidi looks on.
MIRI: A total of 335 civil servants in Sarawak were yesterday awarded Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia (PPS) by the state government in recognition of their long and excellent service in the state and federal departments.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg presented the awards – the fifth series held in the state so far this year.
The recipients were from 19 government agencies (12 state and seven federal) and the most number of recipients totalling 122 were from the Education Department.
Leading the recipients was the permanent secretary to Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Datu Liaw Soon Eng, who had served for 38 years.
Among other PPS medal recipients were Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) director Dr Dusit Jaul (38 years of service), Fisheries Department Sarawak director Belayong Nyuak (32 years), Maning Nyuhat (Marine Fisheries Department) and Faridah Ibrahim (Royal Malaysian Police, Miri) who both had served for 40 years, Laing Jau Anyie @ La’ing Jau Anyie – Forestry Department (39 years) and Halimah Nana – Marine Fisheries Department (37 years).
PPS is only given to those who had served continuously for 20 years or 25 years collectively and shown excellent record in service supported by their head of department.
They must be clear of any form of investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with no record of disciplinary action.
PPS recipients from Subis District Council pose for a photo call.
The Chief Minister in a souvenir programme for the awards, while congratulating the recipients for their excellent services, said the public service in Sarawak was in a transformation period towards a more efficient and world class service. To provide excellent service delivery and to achieve such goal, all civil servants must be of high integrity and accountability, he stressed.
Five recipients interviewed shared their joy and gratitude with the state government and their respective departments for recognising their services, some of whom received death threats for enforcing the law in the course of their duties.
“As a forest guard, myself and other staff in the enforcement unit faced challenges, not only climatic and terrain problems but also death threats for enforcing laws on illegal logging.
“We however persevered and did our duties without fear or favour,” said Laing, 60, of the department in Miri. He retired last August after having served in Miri, Marudi, Long Lama and Kuala Baram.
Liaw, 62, who is on two years’ contract with his ministry, said the passion and pleasure of serving the government and the people kept him going.
“Every career or job has its challenges but if we persevere and are dedicated and prepared to serve anywhere our services are required, we can face all challenges,” said Liaw, who had previously served as Resident of Miri, Sarikei and Deputy State Financial Secretary before being promoted to his current post.
Maning, 62, said “besides dedication and trustworthiness to be successful in service delivery, we must also relentlessly improve our skills and knowledge. Based on this philosophy, I first started as lab attendant in 1975 and later went to university and then was promoted to assistant fisheries officer and upon retiring I took up another job as trainer in a private human resource company in Samarahan”.
Faridah, 58, chief accounts clerk of the Miri Police Headquarters, said she loved her job so much that she refused a recent promotion to a different job.
“I love my job and this is my second PPS and I believe I can serve better as I grow up doing accounting with the Police Department since 40 years ago serving in stations in Limbang, Kuching and Miri. I love Miri too and that is why I didn’t move together with my hubby Superintendent Annuar Suhaili to Police Headquarters Kuching,” said Faridah.
Halimah, 58, who took earlier retirement in April this year, also thanked the state government for the award. In 2001 she was awarded the Anugerah Khidmat Cemerlang (Excellent Service Award). She hoped that such award be continued to inspire others to do their best in their services.
Among those present at the function yesterday were the Chief Minister’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohammad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus.