Dr Siti Hasmah conferred Asia HRD Lifetime Achievement Award

CYBERJAYA, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Prime Minister’s wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, was conferred the Asia Human Resources Development (HRD) Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asia HRD Awards 2019 held at Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences here tonight. 

According to a statement released during the event, the award was in recognition of Dr Siti Hasmah’s outstanding contribution towards the development of Malaysia’s public health sector. 

“Dr Siti Hasmah was a trail blazer in many ways, achieving many ‘first’ in the Ministry of Health. She served in various leadership positions including president of the Malaysian Girl Guides Association, president of the Malaysian Medical Association Foundation and president of the Association for the Rehabilitation of Handicapped Children,” the statement said.

It said Dr Siti Hasmah’s continuing work, tireless efforts and initiatives in the fields of public health literacy and drug abuse control have been unparalleled. 

“Dr Siti Hasmah is a pioneer and an inspiring role model for women in Malaysia and around the world.

“She stands out as one person who has made a huge impact to the nation with her courage, tenacity and strength in character,” the statement said.

Dr Siti Hasmah, who shed tears at the end of her acceptance speech, attributed her achievement to her late father Mohd Ali Taib, who forced her to enter medical school and made her to be who she is today. 

“I wish he could witness me receiving this award tonight,” she said.

During the event, the guests sang happy birthday to Dr Siti Hasmah, who celebrated her 93rd birthday last Friday (July 12). 

The Lifetime Achievement Award is conferred on individuals who have either promoted the cause of learning or pioneered initiatives that have impacted people in a significant manner.

Past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include former Philippine President Fidel Ramos and former Prime Minister of Bosnia Dr Haris Silajdzic.

The Asia HRD Awards recognised those who contributed to people development, whether it is to the human resource profession, an organisation, the community or society at large.

Launched as an independent initiative in 2003, the awards now have become a prestigious annual event with the Asia HRD Awards Hall of Fame honouring a total of 250 recipients from 20 countries. 

-- BERNAMA