Two couples receive excellent service award in conjunction with UMPSA Quality and Innovation Day 2025

PEKAN, 13 June 2025 – Two married couples from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) received the Excellent Service Award (APC) in conjunction with UMPSA Quality and Innovation Day 2025 (HKI 2025), held festively at the Multipurpose Hall, Pekan.

This annual event is organised to appreciate the excellence of university members in the fields of service, research, and innovation, as well as to strengthen teamwork spirit and a quality work culture among UMPSA staff.

Among the highlights of the ceremony was the recognition given to two married couples who demonstrated outstanding performance in their respective careers.

The first couple was Che Afandi Che Abdullah, General Service Assistant at the Academic and International Affairs Department (JHEAA), and his wife, Nur Sarihah Abdul Hamid, Administrative Assistant (Clerical/Operational) at the Faculty of Computing (FK).

The second couple was Professor ChM. Ts. Dr. Gaanty Pragas Maniam from the Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology (FSTI) and his wife, Kalpana Ramachandran, Senior Administrative Officer at the Faculty of Industrial Management (FPI).

The combination of academic and administrative roles possessed by these couples reflects an extraordinary synergy in supporting an effective learning and management ecosystem at UMPSA.

UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Yatimah Alias, presented the awards to the recipients, expressing appreciation for the dedication and support these couples have shown in advancing the university’s mission and vision.

“This recognition not only celebrates individual achievements but also acknowledges the role of spouses who act as the backbone and motivation for each other in the pursuit of excellence,” she said in her officiating speech.

HKI 2025 also witnessed the presentation of 12 award categories, including the Excellent Service Award (APC), Vice-Chancellor’s Quality Award, University Academic Award, Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Award, University e-Learning Award, and the Award for Upholding the Malay Language as the Language of Knowledge at UMPSA.

Others included the Best Article Writing Award, Occupational Safety and Health Excellence Award, Public Sector Conducive Ecosystem Award, Sports Award, Community Personality Award, and Industry and Community Excellence Award.

The presence of many university staff enlivened the atmosphere of the event, which serves as an annual platform to foster a culture of quality and innovative work at UMPSA.

By: Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press