M’sia’s first woman fighter jet pilot awarded
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s first woman fighter jet pilot was one of the six Sabahan women presented with awards at the state-level Women’s Day celebration here on Saturday night.
Major Patricia Yapp Syau Yin, 41, received the ‘Anugerah Wanita Cemerlang’. The other recipients were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman’s wife Datin Seri Rubiah Datuk Abdul Samad who was awarded the ‘Anugerah Ikon Wanita’, former state Attorney General Datuk Mariati Robert who was awarded the ‘Anugerah Wanita Terbilang’, Sahrah Asor who received the ‘Anugerah Usahawan Wanita Harapan’, businesswoman Marinah Harris Embiricos, the ‘Anugerah Usahawan Wanita Cemerlang’ and Persatuan Ibu Tunggal Norqaseh Kinabatangan which received the ‘Anugerah Persatuan Wanita Cemerlang’.
Yapp, who is from Sandakan, is also the first woman Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter pilot in Asia and her success in her career in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) made her the best candidate for the award.
Dressed in her air force uniform, she received the award from Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman which came with RM5,000, a trophy and certificate.
When asked for the ‘recipe’ to her successful career after the ceremony, Yapp said it was commitment and discipline when doing anything.
“Then of course there must be interest in everything we do,” said the mother of two children under seven-years old whose husband also serves in the RMAF.◆
Yapp, who has been with RMAF for 20 years, began flying fighter jets since 2003.
She also expressed her ambition to become not only the first Malaysian woman astronaut, but also from Sabah, and has begun preparations towards achieving that dream.
“If not me then it will be our children,” said Yapp who is now an instructor with the air force and she expressed her gratitude to those who nominated and chose her for the award.
Yapp also said Malaysian military’s fair treatment of women officers and personnel reflects the government’s practice of gender equality.
She said she was able to fulfill her dream to fly fighter jets because of her passion in her chosen career in aviation and backed by high commitment and discipline to succeeed in a man’s world.
“The military gives fair treatment to both men and women, and this is something we see in the government as well, where men and women hold high positions. But, it is all about your interest and commitment, and most of all, God’s blessing, that will help you to succeed,” she said.