The National Award for Public service to be given out on two occasions.

Following Intensive discussions with the National Awards Committee, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has made the decision to confer the National Award for Public Service on two occasions: due to an abundant number of incoming applications made this decision. 

President Solih expressed his excitement as the number of applications received for the National Award for Public Service reached an astronomical all-time high. A total of 270 applications were received for the National Award for Public Service while 72 nominees applied for the National Award this year, by the end of the application deadline on 12 August 2021. 

Members of the National Awards Committee deliberated on the subject and came to the conclusion that it was not reasonable to confer awards to so many people at the same time; deciding that the National Award for Public Service would be conferred during the ceremonies to be held on the occasions of Independence Day and National Unity Day. 

Proud recipient of the Order of Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin, the Chairperson of the Committee, Aneesa Ahmed stated that the vetting process for the recipients for national awards is close to an end.  

She also emphasized that since this is the first time the National Award for Public Service was opened for nomination, a lot of individuals had difficulty with the form application process.  
 Many issues arose in regards to submitting supporting documents that were required for the completion of the application form.  The National Awards Committee would later inform the specific applicants on the missing documents that are required to complete their form submission. 
 
As most of them deserved the award, the awards committee decided to give those applicants another chance to submit the missing required documents along with the form.