Sunday 18.2.2024.
Dekna had busied herself these last 2 weeks for the event in Melaka held last night at the Hatten Hotel, Bandar Hilir. Briefings were attended, apparently, and new dresses had to be acquired, obviously. And to top it off, after lunch yesterday there was supposed to be a rehearsal. A right grand party had been arranged, and the AGC's bosses came down in numbers. We accompanied Dekna to Melaka, and she put us up in the same hotel, but were not invited to the actual function. No matter.
From our 19th floor window we could see several tall buildings around us, clearly also large hotels. But they appeared unoccupied, because we saw no lighted windows.
The shopping mall opposite us, when we went there, is large and the floors we rode through on the escalator have well-marked, advertised shoplots. But all were unlighted and empty. Only when we went down to the Wisma Pahlawan side we found businesses in operation.
The Bandar Hilir area has clearly been marked for extensive development, and there are several huge buildings with on-going activities. But many remain underutilised or not at all. There must be an explanation. In the distant could be seen a huge uncompleted superstructure with the outline of abondoned engineering work silhouetted against the Straits of Melaka. That is part of the mystery here.
There is no mystery for Dekna's selection, for the 3rd time in her 14-year career in the AGC, as a recipient of the Excellent Service Award. I know for certain that she takes her work seriously from day one. She would bring work home, and regardless of the late hours, or the weekends, she would bury her head in the paperwork and the pc, often ignoring her kids clamouring for attention. I can assure her bosses here that there's no skimping for Dekna for the legal responsibilities entrusted to her. I'm proud of her work habit. Maybe part of me could claim honour for the serious attention to duty I have bequeathed my only girl. I haven't actually seen her in court, nor have I recourse to what her bosses and colleagues think of her. But if these awards are as seriously taken as I believe, then her selection as a recipient for the 3rd time is something to cherish.
Without any pretense, I declare that Dekna has exploited fully the opportunity that has come before her. She was offered a place in the top Girls College of TKC entering into Form 1. Instead of the one-year matriculation route earned after an excellent SPM/MCE, she chose the longer and apparently less prestigious DPA route, and I agreed, because, having chosen to read law, this would give her, we both felt, a more solid base for a practical, legal career. And securing the Dean's List after 3 years was cool. Then she was accepted into the BLS degree course . After another 3 years she got a First Class Honours and the Best Student Award to boot. After another 1 year she obtained her LLB Honours 2nd Class Upper, missing another First Class Honours by a hair. But again she secured the Best Student Award. And thus a double-degree in Law. Not bad.
Dekna got her first Excellent Service Award in 2013, when she was a Federal Counsel in the Prosecution Unit of the State Legal Advisor in Kuantan. Her second Excellent Service Award was in 2020, when she was the Director, NS Legal Aid Bureau. Her third Excellent Service Award yesterday was as the Director, Civil, NS, under the LA.
The steps appear to be in the right direction. I pray to God my daughter finds continued guidance in an honourable profession, and do the right thing. I also pray to God I live long enough to see her on the Bench, somehow, Amin.
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