Liew proud to receive award

BY LEONG SHEN-LI

KUALA LUMPUR: Being the only non-Muslim to receive the Maulidur Rasul award this year has made the honour for Fire and Rescue Department officer Liew Tong Sin all the more meaningful. 

“I totally did not expect this. Whatever I did was part of my duty to my country,” said the 56-year-old enforcement officer from the Alor Star fire station. 

Liew, who has served in the department for 25 years, said he was proud and “very grateful” for the award. 

Winners of the Maulidur Rasul awards were all smiles after receiving a plaque, certificate,books and RM2,000 each from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin TuankuSyed Putra Jamalullail at this year's Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebrations at StadiumPutra in Bukit Jalil. They are (from bottom left) Nordin Mat Diah, Datin HabibahMohd , Nabissah Mohamed, Siti Hajijah Yusoff, Liew Tong Sin, Abdul Bakri Mohamad, MdMiskan Kamari, Abd Hamid @ Sidek Din @ Abidin, Wan Kamel Wan Hussain and Ilias M.Yasin. The winners were chosen for their commitment, handling challenging or risky situationsand contributing to the peace and prosperity of Malaysians and the country. STARpic by BRIAN MOH

“It is very meaningful to me, especially when I am the only non-Muslim to be chosen for the award this year,” he said. 

His citation, which was read just before he received his award, stated that he took part in many life-threatening and challenging operations, including putting out forest fires and heading a team to kill Nipah virus-infected pigs in 1999. 

Liew was among the 10 award winners this year who received RM2,000, a plaque, certificate and several books from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail during the Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebrations at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil here yesterday. 

The other winners were Nordin Mat Diah, Datin Habibah Mohd, Nabissah Mohamed, Siti Hajijah Yusoff, Ilias M. Yasin, Wan Kamel Wan Hussain, Abd Hamid @ Sidek Din @ Abidin, Md Miskan Kamari and Abdul Bakri Mohamad. 

Nordin, a laboratory assistant with the Chemistry Department, said he was very surprised and thankful for the award. 

“This is a real surprise because it was my superiors who put forward my name.”  

Nordin, 54, was recognised for his dedication to his work, which included handling dioxin and furan, some of the most dangerous chemicals known to man. 

Asked what sustained his dedication at work, he said he always felt a sense of commitment towards whatever he was entrusted to do. 

“One also has to have an interest in research,” he said. 

Chief nurse Habibah, 45, said the award would give her greater inspiration to work harder and look after people. 

“My work is full of challenges and requires a lot of patience,” she said. 

About 5,000 people attended yesterday's celebrations, including Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his wife Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood and several Cabinet ministers. 

The celebrations, themed Negara Maju Matlamat Kita (A Developed Country is our Goal), began with a procession around the sports complex by contingents from various government departments and agencies, companies, non-governmental organisations, associations, clubs, universities and schools.