SIBU: A total of 316 personnel and retirees of the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) were honoured with the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara (PJPN) in a formal ceremony yesterday (Sept 27).
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, who awarded the medals to the recipients, emphasised that these medals were bestowed in recognition of the heroic service, sacrifice, and devotion of these personnel to the country during significant historical periods.
The medals were awarded for their service during the emergency era in Malaya from July 12, 1948, to July 21, 1960, and the Communist Insurgency era from June 17, 1968, to Dec 2, 1989, as well as the emergency in Sabah and Sarawak from 1962 to Oct 17, 1990.
“This PJPN award series at the Sarawak IPK level covers the central zone of the state, which includes 12 districts: Sibu, Sarikei, Betong, Saratok, Kanowit, Julau, Kapit, Song, Meradong, Mukah, Dalat, and Matu Daro.
“A total of 247 retired and former police personnel, as well as 50 next-of-kins of retired and former police personnel who died, received the medals at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS).
“In addition, 19 police personnel who are still in service also received the medals,” he said during a press conference following the PJPN award ceremony.
From 2014 up to this year, a total of 2,000 police personnel have been honoured with PJPN in Sarawak.
Among these, 1,465 received the medal ceremonially, 20 received the medal in an informal ceremony, and 515 are still serving in the force.
Mohd Azman added that Sarawak IPK has hosted a total of 91 series of ceremonial and five non-ceremonial medal awarding events from 2014 until the recent ceremony on Sept 27.
Based on the e-Pesara system established in 2020, there are still 2,870 retirees or former police personnel in Sarawak IPK who have yet to be awarded the PJPN.
“Of this group, 2,073 chose to attend the formal awarding ceremony, while 797 preferred to receive the award without a formal ceremony.
“According to this year’s plan, the Sarawak IPK level PJPN ceremony will be held two more times, namely in Kuching and Sri Aman,” he said.
He strongly encouraged all eligible retirees and ex-police personnel to register themselves in the e-Pesara portal.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata, Sarawak Management Department chief SAC Awang Din Awang Gani, Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief SAC Wong Ing Fung, and Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili.
