IPOH: Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah and Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim graced the Perak-level National Day Awards presentation ceremony here.
Also in attendance were Raja Muda of Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja DiHilir of Perak Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.
Sultan Nazrin presented contributions to 11 national heroes in recognition of their service and sacrifices in defending the country’s security and sovereignty.
Each recipient received RM1,000 and a certificate of appreciation.
The recipients comprised six Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel, two Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel and three Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) personnel who sustained injuries or disabilities while carrying out their duties, Bernama reported.
Among them was Warrant Officer 2 Mohamad Razali Din, who stepped on a landmine during Operation Naga in Banding, resulting in the loss of his left leg below the knee.
Warrant Officer 2 Megat Abdullah Megat Othman, who eliminated three communist terrorists during Operation Batu Kawah in Sri Aman, was presented with a commando knife and certificate of appreciation.
The other MAF recipients were Staff Sergeant Idris Ismail, Corporal Mokhtar Sulaiman, Lance Corporal Khairul Anuar Abdul Hamid and Lance Corporal Alias Abd Wahab.
The PDRM recipients were retired Sub-Inspector Omar Jayus and retired Sergeant-Major Abdul Malek Nordin, while the RMN recipients were retired First Admiral Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid, retired Commander Mohd Akhbar Mohd Yusof and retired Warrant Officer 2 Ahmad Safwi Shaari.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said Malaysia had never been built by a homogenous society, but by a diverse one that had chosen to live together.
“We stand beneath the same Jalur Gemilang. We uphold the same Constitution. The Malay language, as the national language, connects us, while the institution of the Malay Rulers continues to serve as a shield for all Malaysians,” he said.
