I SALUTE the recipients of the recent Merdeka Awards.

All the recipients deserved the commendations and praise for their contribution to the nation.

I am particularly happy to note that the Nipah virus encephalitis team of Universiti Malaya was a joint winner.

Having said that, I wish to point out that during the Nipah virus outbreak it was frontliners from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), health and the armed forces who risked their lives to bring the disease under control.

It was a hectic and risky situation at the abandoned pig farms in Negri Sembilan and Ipoh.

With limited protective equipment at the onset of the outbreak, DVS staff went about their job with a high sense of commitment and dedication to bring the disease under control.

The sacrifices of these frontliners from these agencies deserve some form of recognition.

It would have been a great morale booster for the staff of these agencies had the Merdeka Award selection committee considered at least including one representative from these agencies to be part of the award-winning team.

S. PARAM, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – December 2, 2008