IPOH: After she shot from obscurity to overnight fame through a viral video clip, R. Yogeswary has finally let her guard down, confessing to having butterflies in her stomach as the nonchalant female security guard at a government hospital here will soon make the 'star trek' to the palace to receive a medal from the King himself.
"I really did not expect this at all and was nervous when I received the letter from the palace," said Yogeswary, who, out of the public eye, is a dutiful security guard at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) 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, the palace.
"This is the first time I will set foot in the palace, so I am indeed speechless. Before this, I only watched (such ceremony 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 told Bernama.
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 for company, to Kuala Lumpur a few days before the award ceremony.
Yogeswary, who was previously in charge of security at the Women, Children and Cardiology Complex, was assigned to the Daily Treatment Complex just 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 (PwD – Persons with Disabilities) and who 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 who arrived 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 of Yogeswary's deeds on her Facebook page.
Among the 'extra' help Yogeswary provided was lifting things, controlling traffic at the parking lot, calming anxious patients, nervous fathers-to-be and congratulating mothers after giving birth. — Bernama
