‘Disability no excuse to stop striving to do better’
PUTRAJAYA: Being wheelchairbound has not stopped Rahimah Andungai from executing her duties as a Public Service Department administrative assistant.
Her hard work paid off when she earned recognition from the government.
Rahimah, 38, joined more than 800 recipients of the 2016 Prime Minister’s Department Excellent Service Award yesterday.
“I keep a positive outlook on things, especially when it’s hard,” she said.
Rahimah said since she joined the civil sector nine years ago, her superiors and colleagues had always been supportive and assisted her.
“I love to come to work and look forward to start working after a long public holiday.”
Despite her disability, Rahimah said she was active in sports and enjoyed playing tennis.
The Sabahan advised other workers like her not to let their disability stop them from striving to do better, and to never give up.
Rahimah said she applied what she had learned in dealing with people who came to her department for information.
“I am now pursuing a degree in Human Resources because I enjoy this field.”
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said the government had taken good care of its civil servants, with continuous efforts to improve the civil sector through emoluments and incentives, including fasttrack and time-based promotion, wage equality and hiring contract workers as permanent staff.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when tabling the 2017 Budget, announced incentives such as providing affordable homes under the 1Malaysia Civil Servant Housing programme.
“No other country in the world has given so much incentives or facilities to the public service sector staff,” Ali said.
He urged civil servants to embrace the principle of loyalty towards the government.
He said the Ekspresi Negaraku campaign, aimed at cultivating love, loyalty and patriotism among the people, should inspire public servants to have the same spirit when carrying out their duties.