Zaidi, 52, was named in the honours list for the birthday today of the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri of Penang, Abdul Rahman Abbas.
In April, Zaidi, who works for the Penang bridge concessionaire, had scaled down a pillar to grab the woman and held on to her as both were swept away by the current into the middle of the Penang channel until fishermen from Pulau Aman pulled them out of the water 20 minutes later.
The highest awards in the honours list went to the chief of the Armed Forces, Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, and businessman Tan King Tai who both received the Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri, which carries the title ‘Datuk Seri’.
Zulkifli, 59, was appointed to head the armed forces on June 20. Tan, 62, was formerly a major shareholder of electronics and electrical appliance manufacturer Pensonic Holdings Bhd.
Penang Island mayor Yew Tung Seang was made a Datuk, as well as four politicians: agriculture minister Salahuddin Ayub from Amanah and Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman, from PKR, and former state executive councillors Danny Law Heng Kiang and Lim Hock Seng, both of DAP. They received the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri.
Thirteen people were conferred the Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri, which also carries the title ‘Datuk Seri’.
Among them were two Muftis, Wan Salim Wan Mohd Nor of Penang and Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri of the Federal Territory; Penang police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan; and former Penang Island City Council mayor Maimunah Mohd Shariff.
Eleven people received the Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri which carries the title ‘Datuk’ and 62 received the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri which also carries the ‘Datuk’.
Among them were former Penang police chief Chuah Ghee Lye; Penang Cricket Association president Lakhbir Singh Sadu Singh; Penang Syarie chief judge Mohamad Shakir Abdul Hamid; deputy state secretary Mohamad Farazi Johari; Penang Health director Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah and Town and Country Planning Department director-general Rokibah Abdul Latif.
Forty-four people received the Darjah Johan Negeri, 67 the Bintang Cemerlang Negeri, 129 the Pingat Kelakuan Terpuji; 290 Pingat Jasa Kebaktian, 306 the Pingat Jasa Masyarakat and 37 the Pingat Bakti Setia.