Three distinguished nurses honored for service, education, and community health leadership

May 13, 2026

Healthcaretoday, Persatuan Jururawat Malaysia, Malaysian Nurses Association, International Nurses Day 2026, Nursing leadership, Nursing Icon Award, Empowered nurses, nursing profession, registered nurses, RN,

Second from left: Safiah Sutan Taharudin, together with Dato Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Health, poses with recipients of the Nursing Icon Award — Asiah Supaat, Datin Dr Norkiah Arsad and Suriana Yazid. Last from right is Gowry Narayanan Director of Nursing Ministry of Health.

Behind every hospital ward, vaccination center, and community clinic stands a nurse whose dedication often unfolds quietly, beyond public recognition. Nurses are the steady hands that comfort patients in their most vulnerable moments, the vigilant professionals safeguarding public health, and the compassionate advocates guiding families through life’s most difficult medical journeys. Their work demands not only clinical skill but extraordinary resilience, empathy, and sacrifice.

In recognition of these invaluable contributions, the national-level International Nurses Day celebration on May 12 honored three outstanding individuals whose careers exemplify dedication, leadership, and service to humanity.

Organized by the Malaysian Nurses Association, this year’s celebration carried the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future – Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”

Celebrating excellence in nursing service
Asiah Supaat received the Nursing Icon (Service) award in recognition of her remarkable 37-year career in nursing. She was honored for her outstanding and selfless contributions to the profession, demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism, leadership, and compassionate patient care.

Asiah began her nursing journey at the Johor Bahru School of Nursing in 1975. She later qualified as a staff nurse in 1978 at the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Throughout her distinguished career, Asiah held several key leadership positions. In 2009, she served as the Head of Nursing at the hospital, where she led more than 3,000 nurses across various grades—an immense responsibility that required both clinical leadership and strong administrative oversight.

Her expertise later extended to national healthcare leadership. In 2014, she served as the Senior Assistant Director at the Nursing Division of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, where she oversaw service units for 200 government hospitals across the country.

Asiah also demonstrated exceptional dedication during her secondment to the Tabung Haji from 2001 to 2003. During this period, she served as the Head of Health Education and as a Matron at Hospital Azizah, supporting Malaysian pilgrims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Advancing nursing through education and research
The Nursing Icon (Education) award was presented to Datin Dr Norkiah Arsad, whose 38-year career has played a pioneering role in advancing nursing education and strengthening its recognition as a specialized academic discipline in Sabah and across Malaysia.

Norkiah began her career with a Certificate of Nursing and a Post Basic in Midwifery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital before further training in Public Health Nursing.

Committed to lifelong learning, she pursued extensive academic qualifications, earning a Bachelor of Nursing Science, a Master of Psychology (Counseling), and eventually a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology.

Recognizing the complex emotional and psychological needs of patients, Norkiah used her background in psychology to integrate counseling into the public health nursing framework. Her work helped expand the holistic approach to patient care, acknowledging that emotional well-being is closely linked to physical health.

She also played a vital role in developing the Public Health Nursing Degree Curriculum for the Malaysian Nursing Board, contributing significantly to the professional development of future nurses.

Even after her mandatory retirement, Norkiah has continued contributing to academia as a supervisor to PhD candidates, ensuring the continuity of high-level nursing research. Her research has also been presented internationally in locations such as Surabaya and Sri Lanka, covering topics including COVID-19, nursing students’ clinical simulations, and critical thinking disposition.

Championing community health
The Nursing Icon (Community) award was presented to Suriana Yazid, who devoted 34 years of service to community and public health nursing across Pahang and Kelantan.

From 1991 to 2025, Suriana served in numerous clinics while steadily advancing through leadership roles within the healthcare system. Her dedication eventually led to her appointment as the Chief State Health Nurse Supervisor at the Kelantan State Health Department, a role she held from 2018 to 2023.

During her tenure, she made significant contributions to nursing development, including spearheading the Annual Public Health Nursing Action Plan for Kelantan and coordinating the National Nursing Audit at the state level.

Her leadership became especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suriana played an instrumental role in managing and monitoring community vaccination programs while conducting supervisory visits to vaccination centers across the state.

Beyond administrative leadership, Suriana has remained deeply committed to mentorship and knowledge-sharing. She has served as a Local Preceptor for the Post Basic Public Health Nursing Course and frequently speaks on topics such as immunization, breastfeeding, and BCG management.

Honoring dedication that saves lives
The recognition of Asiah Supaat, Datin Dr Norkiah Arsad, and Suriana Yazid reflects the extraordinary dedication of nurses who quietly shape healthcare systems and strengthen community well-being.

Their careers represent the very spirit of this year’s theme—empowered nurses whose expertise, compassion, and leadership continue to save lives while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

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