BINTULU: A total of 214 civil servants were conferred the Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia (Loyal Service Medal) at a ceremony held at the Bintulu Imperial Hotel today (May 22).
The awards were presented by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in recognition of decades of loyal and exemplary service in the state public service.
The medal is awarded to permanent civil servants in Sarawak who have completed either 20 continuous years or 25 years of cumulative service, with satisfactory performance and strong endorsements from their respective heads of department.
Recipients must also have no disciplinary record and be free from any investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, underscoring the award’s emphasis on integrity, commitment and service excellence.
The Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia traces its origins to the Brooke era when it was first introduced as the ‘Long Service Decoration’ to recognise loyal and high-performing officers in the early state administration.
It was later renamed during the British colonial period before adopting its current title in 1996.
Since then, the medal has remained a key state honour symbolising appreciation for officers who have contributed significantly to Sarawak’s public administration and development.
Recipients at today’s ceremony came from various departments and agencies, with the Sarawak Education Department recording the highest number of awardees at 73, followed by the Bintulu Development Authority (48) and the Sarawak Health Department (38).
Others included the Sarawak Forestry Department (24), Bintulu Division Resident Office (10), Sarawak Agriculture Department (7), Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Sarawak) (6), Immigration Department of Malaysia (Sarawak) (3), Sarawak Land and Survey Department (3) and Sarawak Public Works Department (2).
