702 retired cops await hero medals

KUCHING: A total of 702 eligible Sarawak police retirees have yet to receive the ‘Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara’ (PJPN).

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said that majority of the recipients live in rural and inland areas.

“Because of that, we will make efforts to find them.

“Perhaps we will go to the rural areas to award them the medals, and although it won’t be ceremonial, we will still present the award to them,” he said.

Yesterday (July 30), he officiated the PJPN Award Ceremony Series 3 and 4 at Dewan Pahlawan, Sarawak General Operations Force (GOF) Headquarters, where 381 eligible police retirees – 235 retirees and 146 next of kin – received their medals.

Comm Mancha hoped that all former police retirees would be awarded the PJPN by the end of the year.

The Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) has organised 15 series of the PJPN Award Ceremony since 2014 and plans to hold two more in September.

The PJPN recognises the heroic service, sacrifice, and devotion of police personnel during significant historical periods, including the emergency era in Malaya (1948-1960), the Communist Insurgency era (1968-1989), and the emergency in Sabah and Sarawak (1962-1990).