Club honours three top policewomen for contributions to the vulnerable

VIOLENCE against women and children is abhorrent. The perpetrators of crimes like this have always preyed on the weak and vulnerable. Hence, these crimes have always made the media cycle and stayed in people’s memories. 

But who are those who investigate and help protect these victims?

In conjunction with International Women’s Day on March 8 this year, the Rotary Club of Melawati, a community-based organisation, awarded vocational service awards to three outstanding policewomen. 

They have been at the forefront of providing protection and helping the vulnerable, especially women and children, and were recognised for their service above self in their vocation. 

Two of them have recently retired from an exceptionally stellar careers whilst another is still serving. 

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Choo Lily was selected as one of the pioneers of the newly formed Domestic Violence & Sexual Crime against Women and Children unit which is now known as D11.

She, together with other selected women officers, were trained by officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on how to handle victims and conduct sensitive interviews.

She would later become the only officer to have held the different levels of posts within this specialised unit, namely as investigation officer.

She then came back to head the Kuala Lumpur D11 unit and her last post before retirement, the principal assistant director in the National Police Headquarters in Bukit Aman. She also served as deputy officer-in-charge (OCPD) of Subang Jaya police district, making her the first lady officer to hold this post.

For her many years of excellent service, Lily was bestowed service medals namely Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), Ahli Mahkota Wilayah (AMW) and Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) by the Malaysian government.

She continues her work by sharing her vast experience in this is one of the reasons she is now conducting training on Sexual Harassment At Workplace for private corporations.

Supt (R) Thamarai Letchmi Muthusamy has 36 years of experience working in various divisions of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP). Among the portfolios held by her are Criminal Investigation, Prosecution, Training, International Liaison and Crime Prevention.

She has a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Law from University of Malaya. She was one of the pioneers of a newly formed Domestic Violence & Sexual Crimes Against Women and Children Unit of the police in 1986 

She was the head of ground operations in the Crime Prevention Department of Kuala Lumpur City Police when she retired in 2021.

For her tireless service within the RMP, she has been bestowed Pingat Jasa Pahlawan (PJP) and Kesatria Mangku Wilayah (KMW) by the Malaysian Government.

Dedicated to public safety and peace

And finally, Saroja Egamparam hails from Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Born in 1965 and married with four children. Has been serving in the RMP since 1987.

She is a dedicated law enforcement officer with over 36 years in law enforcement with extensive experience in providing community safety, enforcing the laws, maintaining the peace, decreasing crime rates, and assisting citizens. 

In the year 2010, she was promoted to assistant superintendent of police (ASP) and was transferred to the Negeri Sembilan Contingent Police Headquarters at the Police Legal Division (D5) advising on the implementation of relevant criminal law and procedures to the Criminal Investigation Division.

She then moved on to the Serious Crime Division (D9) which conducted operations and investigations on serious crimes such as murder, arm robbery, and so on.

In 2015 she was promoted to deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and attached to Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bukit Aman.

She served in the division for six years and is currently attached to the Crime Scene Investigation Unit of the CID’s forensic laboratory.

The awards were presented by the club’s vocational service director, past assistant governor Rema Paul who noted that although we have many outstanding civil servants who go above and beyond the call of duty to serve the public. 

At times we only tend to focus on those with negative media attached to them like corruption and abuse of power. 

More should be done to celebrate those who contribute to a better and progressive society and promote the Malaysia Madani concept which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim espouses regularly. 

As we look at this example of one organisation recognising and valuing the great work of fellow Malaysians, maybe it’s time to also look around and celebrate others within our midst and communities.

They are the unsung heroes who help promote positive values for the next generation. – The Vibes, March 30, 2023