In Malaysia, it is often observed that politicians, civil servants, and government-linked company (GLC) heads receive numerous titles and honours during royal birthday celebrations, be it at state or national level, and other national ceremonies.

These individuals are already well compensated through taxpayers’ money – they enjoy hefty allowances, travel benefits, a personal car and driver, and even tailor-made suits or outfits provided at the public’s expense.

However, the performance of many of these politicians and civil servants are frequently called into question, raising concerns about the criteria for receiving such titles.

Ministers and secretaries of ministries often find themselves on the list of honourees, even when there is little evidence of outstanding performance in their respective roles.

This trend extends to civil servants who reach the position of ministry’s secretary general, seemingly receiving awards as a matter of course.

This practice prompts the question of whether this recognition is a prerequisite of their position or an honour truly earned through exceptional service.

The reality on the ground tells a different story.

Despite these accolades, many public services remain subpar.

– Potholes are rampant
– Traffic lights are faulty, causing traffic woes and accidents
– Traffic jams continue to plaque our cities
– Inhumane way of handling strays
– Poor performance of football, hockey and suffering in badminton
– Rising insurance fees for the senior citizens
– Hospital bills escalating even worst in the private hospital
– Rising motorcycle accidents in the country
– Lackadaisical vehicles safety checks on the heavy vehicles by an agency
– Floods at every downpour
– Pollution level on the rivers are getting worst by the day
– Non-functional streetlights bring commuters much despair
– Corruption persists
– Loss of our precious islands
– Poor reputation and image of our nation as compared to a decade ago
– Slow response to public requests, such as land issues

Let us not forget the unsung heroes of Malaysia who should be at the forefront of our national awards, as their efforts resonate deeply with the values of dedication, hard work, and community spirit that build a greater Malaysia.

These are just a few issues that the citizens face on a daily basis that have yet to be sorted out by the respective authorities, including the performance of GLC’s frequently falling short of public expectations.

Yet, the CEO, and department heads of these entities still receive prestigious titles.

In stark contrast, numerous athletes and sports stars who bring pride to the nation through their achievements often go unrecognised.

The prerogative to bestow these titles lies with the royalty, but the recommendations often come from ministers, heads of departments, political parties, sports bodies and NGOs.

It is imperative that these recommendations reflect a broader and more inclusive understanding of service and contribution to the nation.

We must dive deeper and appreciate the true service-oriented ordinary citizens who work diligently without seeking the limelight.

These are the individuals who genuinely deserve our nation’s accolades.

Recognising them not only honours their contributions but also inspires others to engage in community service.

Among such individuals who deserve high recognition include:

■ Nadhir Ashafiq, who focuses on sustainable packaging solutions to reduce plastic waste;

■ Dr Hartini Zainudin, founder of Yayasan Chow Kit, an organisation that provides shelter, education and support for marginalized children in Kuala Lumpur; Andrew Sebastian, founder of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (ECOMY), dedicated to wildlife conservation and environmental education;

■ Kuan Chee Heng, fondly known as “Uncle Kentang”, respected for his numerous charitable initiatives that include running a community pantry, providing free ambulance services and a 10-sen taxi service to help the poor and needy;

■ Adrian Yeo, leader of River of Life, a project focused on cleaning and rehabilitating rivers in Kuala Lumpur, including organising volunteer river clean-up events and educating the public on the importance of keeping waterways clean;

■ Lily Fu, founder of Seniors Aloud, advocating for the rights and well-being of senior citizens in Malaysia;

■ Premesh Chandran, co-founder of Malaysiakini, playing a pivotal role in promoting independent journalism and social justice, on a platform that gives voice to the marginalized and raises awareness on various social issues effecting Malaysians;

■ Citizen Nades, who has been an iconic journalist and has broken several national interests, with stories ranging from PKFZ to Khir Toyo, who is still writing, too.

■ Retired Headmaster Jerome Fernandez who introduced cricket to his school and coached the under 12, under 15 and under 18 teams now has children participating in league and national level.

Let us not forget the unsung heroes of Malaysia – the athletes who train tirelessly, the environmentalists who work to preserve our natural resources, and the everyday citizens who perform acts of kindness and service to man and even strays.

These are the people who should be at the forefront of our national awards, as their efforts resonate deeply with the values of dedication, hard work, and community spirit that build a greater Malaysia.

(Ravindran Raman Kutty is an active social worker.)