KUALA LUMPUR: Sapiah Mohd Nor created history when she became the first woman from the Orang Asli community to be appointed as the director-general of the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa).
Sapiah's appointment as Jakoa's 18th director-general effective tomorrow received the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
She received her letter of appointment from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during a ceremony at the Prime Minister's office at the Parliament building here this morning.
Present was Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
Mahdzir, in a statement, said Sapiah's appointment was historic as she is the first woman from the Orang Asli community to be appointed to the post.
"Her appointment also created history in Jakoa, with a woman leading the department, subsequently increasing involvement of women in the decision-making process involving the Orang Asli community in the civil service," he said.
He said Sapiah, 56, who is of Semai descent, graduated with a master's degree in Business Law from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2007.
She joined the civil service as assistant administration officer in 1991. She has 30 years' experience with a number of government departments and ministries including the Finance Ministry, Primary Industry Ministry and the Public Service Department.
Prior to her appointment as Jakoa director-general, Sapiah had served as an enforcement officer with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry since 2003.
"On behalf of the government and Keluarga Malaysia, I want to congratulate Sapiah on her appointment and wish her the best in performing her duties," said Mahdzir.