Penang bridge hero receives state gallantry award

 

Sgt Mazlan Abdul Rahman with his gallantry medal. He jumped into the sea to rescue a couple who had fallen off the Penang Bridge on Jan 15. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: 

A soldier who rescued a couple who had fallen from the Penang Bridge in January received the Pingat Gagah Perwira gallantry award today at the state honours investiture ceremony.

Sergeant Mazlan Abdul Rahman, 35, was the sole recipient of the PGP award this year.

He said he was truly surprised by the award 

and never thought I would receive this medal

 after having received commendation from the army.

Mazlan, a physical training and sports instructor with the 2nd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment based in Sungai Ara, said the award would be motivation for him to continue working hard and assisting those in need.

The award recognised his action in making a daring leap from the Penang Bridge on Jan 15, to rescue a couple believed to have fallen into the sea.

Mazlan said that his only thought at the time was to save lives in danger, a principle ingrained in him throughout his service. 

My intention was simply to help the couple who had fallen from the bridge,

 he said.

Mazlan, originally from Kuala Nerang, Kedah, has served in the military for 14 years. He previously served in Kelantan and was transferred to Penang at the end of last year. He has two sons aged three and seven.

A total of 235 people received state honours at the investiture ceremony today, of whom 142 received state awards, while 1,204 people received orders and medals of honour. Among the recipients today was former DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang, who was awarded the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN), which carries the title of Datuk Seri Utama. - FMT