HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the awarding of 597 more honorary medals to government servants in recognition of their long and outstanding services.

The second day of the investiture ceremony was witnessed at Balai Singgahsana Indera Kencana of Istana Nurul Iman yesterday.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan, awarded the honorary medals as a personal representative of His Majesty, as a continuation of the first day of the Investiture Ceremony which was witnessed recently.

Two categories of honorary medals were presented – Pingat Indah Kerja Baik (PIKB) or Excellent Service Medal, and the Pingat Kerja Lama (PKL) or Long Service Medal.

The event commenced with the awarding of the PIKB medal to Kusnadi bin Agas, and continued with the awarding of PKL medals to 279 recipients.

Medal recipients were made up of government servants from the Gurkha Reserve Unit, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Speaking to the Bulletin, Suriani binti Julaihi, the first female Automotive Engineering Instructor in Brunei who at present works as an Education Officer for the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Core Education), expressed great pleasure after being awarded the PIKB medal.

Having worked for over 20 years as a teacher at Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College (MTSSR) and Mechanical Training Centre (PLM), including her current position at the ministry, Suriani noted that the award motivates her to increase her quality of work, adding that she hopes her female students will follow suit.

Meanwhile, Hajah Siti Salmiah binti Haji Abdul Rahman, an officer from the Food Safety and Quality Control Division under the Ministry of Health, was awarded the PIKB medal.

“I’ve worked with the ministry for about 25 years now, ever since graduating from MTSSR and I am grateful for receiving this medal. It is a wonderful memory for us all because it is very rare to be able to receive it,” said Hajah Siti Salmiah, adding that she hopes to continue working with the ministry until she retires.

PIKB medal recipient Seri Ainey binti Haji Shahri, an English Language and Literature teacher who has served at Raja Isteri Girls High School (STPRI) over the past 14 years, said, “I feel that it is such a treat because my job is something I love very much and I enjoy contributing my services to the government as a teacher, so this is a real honour.

“The results and achievements of my students are my little successes and as an English teacher, I think being here shows that our contributions are honoured and awarded,” explained Seri Ainey, who back in 2010 was the recipient of the ‘Special Mention on Teachers’ Day Award’.

PKL recipient Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Bongok, who has served with the Ambulance Services under the Ministry of Health for over 27 years, noted that he hopes to receive the PIKB Medal before he retires in five years’ time.

Laboratory Technician of 24 years, Muslim bin Haji Lakim expressed his gratitude after receiving the PIKB and PKL medals, and hopes to continue to improve himself in his line of work.

Meanwhile, siblings, Haji Aslan bin Haji Awang Tengah, an officer at the Department of Youth and Sports for almost 28 years, and his sister, Hajah Fauziah binti Haji Awang Tengah, an officer at the Department of Medicine under the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital for the past 31 years, felt “gratified” at being awarded the PKL medal and PIKB medal respectively.

“Working in my line for almost 28 years now and receiving this medal encourages me to enhance my work performance so that I will be awarded recognition for my services which will be much greater in the future,” Haji Aslan told the Bulletin. - Borneo Bulletin (13 June 2014)