Malaysian hospital security guard receives royal recognition from the King for acts of compassion and dedication

MALAYSIA: A hospital security guard in Malaysia has recently received a prestigious award from the King in recognition of her compassion and dedication to the well-being of hospital visitors and patients.

Yogeswary, a 44-year-old mother of two and a security guard at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), has devoted years to ensuring smooth traffic flow, assisting disabled individuals, and ensuring the safe entry and exit of wheelchair-bound patients from their vehicles.

Her acts of kindness went viral after a video showcasing her efforts was shared on social media.

In March of this year, she was honoured with the “Sejahtera Wanita Award” during the state-level Women’s Day celebration by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, as reported by The Star.

Yogeswary has now achieved even greater recognition, having been bestowed with the Pingkat Pangkuan Negara (PPN) by the King.

The official award ceremony is scheduled for 19 December at Istana Negara.

Expressing her gratitude on 5 December through a Facebook post, Yogeswary thanked everyone for their support, kindness, and cooperation which paved the way for her to receive this prestigious award.

She extended her appreciation to the visitors of HRPB Ipoh, acknowledging their contributions to her recognition.

“To begin with, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the visitors of HRPB Ipoh. To those familiar with me, it’s because of your unwavering support and comments that I am able to receive this award.

Whether or not you are acquainted with me, your comments played a pivotal role in making me viral, ultimately leading to this award, and for that, I am truly grateful to each one of you.”

She also thanked her colleagues and the hospital staff.

In a subsequent Facebook post shared on 6 December, Yogeswary was honored with both a cash award and heartfelt appreciation from her employers.

This served as a token of recognition for her exceptional contributions to both the company and the hospital.

Accompanying her post was a snapshot of the letter sent by United Security Services Sdn Bhd.

The letter praised Yogeswary for setting a commendable example and consistently delivering outstanding service during her tenure as a security guard at HRPB.

Yogeswary, who was genuinely surprised by the recognition from the King, explained that her daily responsibilities include assisting patients, calming anxious individuals, and directing traffic.

She emphasized her commitment to creating a positive environment for those visiting the hospital.

“Earlier I was stationed at the hospital’s Women, Children and Cardiology complex, where I used to see a lot of mothers and their babies.

Now, I am based at the daycare treatment complex, where I meet a lot of disabled patients who come in for rehabilitation, and surgeries,” she told The Star on 6 December.

She revealed her practice of listening to prayer verses on her mobile phone every morning before work to maintain a calm and happy demeanor throughout the day.

Yogeswary highlighted her belief in the power of small gestures, such as opening car doors and holding the lift, to make a positive impact on people’s well-being.

Apart from the official recognition, Yogeswary shared that she has often been rewarded by grateful patients who insist on paying for her meals at restaurants.

Despite feeling shy about it, she appreciates the gestures of gratitude.

As she prepares for the upcoming investiture ceremony, Yogeswary, originally from Gerik, Perak, looks forward to the occasion and plans to get two pairs of baju kurung for the rehearsal and the ceremony.

She mentioned that she has never been to Kuala Lumpur before and will be accompanied by her sister on the drive to the event.

In March, a TikTok video was shared by a grateful hospital visitor, capturing Yogeswary assisting with parking.

The video description mentioned, “Ipoh security guard known for assisting visitors and managing patient affairs at Ipoh hospital.”

@tashaaziz96

Akak guard ipoh yang suka memudahkan urusan pelawat dan pesakit di hospital ipoh 👍🏻 #yoges5602 #fyp #hospitalpermaisuribainunipoh

♬ Pretty song that imaged a sleeping baby – Azuline