4 Malaysian Women Make History By Becoming First Female PDRM Pilots
Their subsequent roles will encompass search and rescue missions, assisting in VIP flights as co-pilots, and other responsibilities.
By Melissa Alvina — 12 Sep 2023, 05:08 PM
Four police officers with the rank of Inspector have made history by becoming the first female pilots in the Royal Malaysia Police's (PDRM) Air Operation Force (PGU), 44 years after its establishment
31-year-old Inspector Wan Aulia Hami Fariheen Wan Azulkefeli, 31-year-old Inspector Yeoh Yee Chee, 33-year-old Inspector Siti Nabilah Abdullah, and 33-year-old Inspector Nur Hidayah Mohd Aisa were honoured with the Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) during the 44th PGU Anniversary held at the Police Air Wing Training Base on Monday, 11 September.
They were among 12 trainees to receive the award from Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitcha.
From left to right: Insp Siti Nabilah, Insp Nur Hidayah, DCP Noor Sham, Datuk Seri Ayob Khan, Insp Yeoh, and Insp Wan Aulia Hami Fariheen at the 44th PGU Anniversary.
Image via Polis Diraja Malaysia (Facebook)Hailing from Ipoh, Nur Hidayah was named Best Flight Trainee
She highlighted that they underwent a training period of a year and a half, which ended in July this year, and that their instructors gave them the best guidance during training.
She also added that her family wholeheartedly endorsed her choice to become a pilot.
"[My family supports] me because they know I like to try something new. I am also the first police officer in my family," she said.
Nur Hidayah is the fourth of seven siblings and is a Bachelor of Materials Engineering graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Meanwhile, Yeoh, who has served with the Kedah police headquarters' Commercial Crime Investigation Department for seven years, said that she seized the opportunity as soon as PGU opened a women's pilot intake
"There were so many stages and requirements that we needed to pass. There were two stages, one was the ground school (theory) and the second was the flying phase (practical)," she said.
Yeoh mentioned that all candidates were required to pass 11 subjects before qualifying for the flying phase.
She also added that their subsequent roles will encompass search and rescue missions, assisting in VIP flights as co-pilots, and other responsibilities.
In addition, Yeoh shared that the greatest challenge she faced during her training was her first solo flight.
"I was so excited but also nervous at the same time. [I had] to take off and land the aircraft on [my] own," she said.
PGU commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani said that it is the first time in the history of PGU that female inspector-ranked officers are being trained
According to New Straits Times, Noor also stated that the four female candidates were chosen to participate in the PPL course following a strict screening process involving 36 participants.
He further mentioned that the police force highly encourages competent and qualified female officers to join the PGU as it aims to enhance the efficiency of its operations.
