The Sultan of Perak presenting the best costume award to Hulu Perak Land District Office.
SOLDIERS and others who served the country loyally received the “National Heroes Contribution” appreciation award from Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah on National Day.
A total of 14 heroes from the police, armed forces and the Fire and Rescue Department were honoured after a state-level parade was held at Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab in front of Ipoh Town Hall in Ipoh, Perak.
Some have retired while the rest are still in service.
Retired corporal Hashim Ismail, 74, from the armed forces, lost his left leg in 1977 to a booby trap during an operation in Thailand.
“I will never forget that moment out of my 21 years of service.
“This was just two days before the end of the operation,” he said after the presentation ceremony held in a marquee tent near Ipoh Railway Station.
Retired sergeant Bah Udar Bah Win, 72, an Orang Asli from Kampar, shot at least 10 communists during three operations between 1977 and 1988.
Uniformed personnel showing their appreciation awards. — Photos by RONNIE CHIN/The Star
“Some of them ran away after I injured them and the firearms were retrieved.
“I am proud to have served the country,” said Bah Udar, who served for 35 years.
Former Fire and Rescue Department operations officer Anuar Janaludin, 62, sustained injuries during his service for the country.
“In 1996 during the Pos Dipang disaster in Kampar, I had a really bad fall in a search and rescue mission.
“Then in 1998, I sustained burns in a forest fire operation in Sabah,” he said.
Earlier, Sultan Nazrin presented prizes to the winners of several categories in the National Day parade.
Ipoh City Council won the marching category for councils, statutory bodies, firms and non-governmental organisations, and came in third for best costumes.
Coming in second was Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation while Perak Water Board (LAP) was placed third.
The best costume category was won by Hulu Perak Land District Office with LAP coming in second.
Under the Land and District Office marching category, the first prize went to Kinta, followed by Hilir Perak and Kerian.
In the government department category, the state Drainage and Irrigation Department won, followed by Public Works Depart-ment and Perak Islamic Religious Department.
SMJK Sam Tet was tops in the school band marching category, followed by UiTM Perak and SMJK Ave Maria Convent.
In the higher learning institutions and schools category, Sekolah Raja Perempuan Ta’ayah was the winner, with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in second place and SM Izzuddin Shah in third.
