IPOH – After she shot from obscurity to overnight fame through a viral video clip, R. Yogeswary has finally let her guard down, confessing to an attack of butterflies as the nonchalant female security guard at a hospital will soon make the “star trek” to the palace to receive a medal from the king himself.
“I really didn’t expect this at all and was nervous when I received the letter from the palace,” said Yogeswary, who, out of the public eye, is only a dutiful security guard at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here who helps patients and visitors at the hospital parking lot until her amicability went viral on social media.
Yogeswary, 44, has been listed as a recipient of the Pingat Pangkuan Negara from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah at the Istana Negara on December 19.
The single mother of two girls expressed her feelings of being moved and happy because her job as a security guard for the past five years at the hospital was viewed kindly by the community and unexpectedly, by the palace.
“This is the first time I will set foot in the palace, so I am speechless. Before this, I only watched (such ceremonies and pomp) on television. Now I am going to be watched.
“Actually, my service here as a security guard is not a big deal when compared to others. However, I never thought many people would notice my work here,” she said.
Expressing her deep appreciation, Yogeswary thanked the hospital management and the security company for giving her the opportunity to work at the hospital.
The youngest of five siblings from Gerik said she expects to drive herself and her sister to Kuala Lumpur a few days before the award ceremony.
Yogeswary, previously in charge of security at the Women, Children and Cardiology Complex, was assigned to the Daily Treatment Complex six months ago.
“The hospital authorities changed my area of duty to the Daily Treatment Complex, where most of the patients are elderly and disabled and need more meticulous help when they arrive here,” she explained.
Earlier, Yogeswary’s simple deeds went viral as she often went the extra mile to comfort disabled patients arriving or visitors to the hospital, which duly caught the attention of Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who praised the guard’s personal touch by posting her appreciation on Facebook.
Among the extra help Yogeswary provided was lifting things, controlling traffic in the parking lot, calming anxious patients and nervous fathers-to-be and congratulating mothers after the stork had arrived. – December 8, 2023