BY AYLA MEDINA
KUCHING: An act of honesty after discovering more than RM3,000 in cash by the roadside has earned a 39-year-old woman special recognition at the 219th Police Day Celebration.
Ruth Victoria Ho Siew Ing received the Special Award under the public category after she promptly handed the money over to the police, ensuring it was returned to its rightful owner while exemplifying integrity in today’s society.
The award was presented during the 219th Police Day Celebration held at the Kuching District Police Headquarters (IPD) on Wednesday.
According to Victoria, the incident occurred while she was on her way back to the office after stopping at Everrise Padungan, when she noticed what she initially thought was rubbish but later realised was a pile of RM50 notes.
“When I checked, the amount was quite large, and I immediately thought about the owner who might be worried or in need of the money for something important,” she said when met after the ceremony at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar here.
She said she decided to hand over the money to the police to ensure it could be safely returned.
Ho admitted she briefly faced a dilemma, but safety concerns and the values instilled by her family guided her decision.
“The amount was large and the area was quite open. I didn’t feel it was safe to keep it for long, so it was better to hand it over to the police,” she said.
The money was later handed over at the Padungan Police Station for further action, including documentation and safekeeping as case evidence.
Ho said she did not expect her actions to lead to formal recognition.
“I did this not for any reward, but because it is my responsibility as an individual. However, this recognition is very meaningful,” she said.
She added that the experience strengthened her belief in cooperation between the public and the police, while encouraging others to uphold honesty in their daily lives.
“Honesty is the foundation that builds trust. Even if it seems small, its impact is very big,” she said.
