Mr. Sathiyaseelan Nadesan

Mr. Sathiyaseelan Nadesan (fondly known as Mr. Seelan) was born on the 17th of September, 1941 in Alor Setar, Kedah. He completed his primary education at the Public Tamil School of Alor Setar before progressing to secondary school at St. Michaels Secondary School, Alor Setar. Having completed his School Certificate Examination in 1960, he joined the State Welfare Department of Kedah as a Temporary Clerk, a position he held until May 1961 when he was offered a permanent role at the Kedah State Medical & Health Department until his retirement in May 1996 – for his 35 years of service, Mr. Seelan was awarded the Distinguished Long Service Medal upon his retirement.

During his service with the State, as well as post-retirement, Mr. Seelan was very actively involved in non-profit work both within Kedah and nationally. He provided long and distinguished service to numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including St. John Ambulance Malaysia Kedah (Deputy State Commander, 1998-2018), Diabetes Malaysia Kedah (Honorary State Secretary, 1996-2018), Neighbourhood Watch of Kota Setar (Chairman, 1992-1997), Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia, Kedah (PEMADAM – Council Member, 1986-Present), Kedah Youth Council (Executive Member, 1995-2007), Kedah State Family Health Association (Executive Member, 1998-Present), University Utara Malaysia (First Aid Instructor, 1994-2014) and the North Kedah Amateur Association (Committee Member, 1995-1998). Mr. Seelan is also a Life Member of the Kedah Indian Association (1997-Current). He has received numerous awards from these organisations as a direct result of his long and dedicated service.

Mr. Seelan joined the Kedah branch of the Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association in 1991 and served as the Honorary State Secretary until 2020 when he was elected Chairman of the Kedah branch – a role which he has held to date. During his tenure, he has been responsible for numerous breakthroughs in the support of leprosy patients and their families within the state, including securing an annual grant from the Kedah State Welfare Council, donations from the Sultanah Bahiyah Kedah Foundation, organising activities during festive seasons, and ensuring the timely and efficient distribution of relief payments to patients and their families.

Mr. Seelan has received numerous decorations at both at the Federal and State level in recognition of his services and contribution to Malaysia and the State of Kedah. At the Federal level, Mr. Seelan
was conferred the Kesatria Mangku Negara (Officer of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm, K.M.N.) as well as the Pingat Pangkuan Negara (P.P.N.) by the D.Y.M.M. Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

At the State level, Mr. Seelan has been conferred numerous awards by successive Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultans of Kedah, including the Setia Diraja Kedah (Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah, S.D.K.), Jaksa Pendamai (Justice of the Peace, J.P.), Ahli Mahkota Kedah (Member of the Order of the Crown of Kedah, A.M.K.), Pingat Perkidmatan Cemerlang (Distinguished Service Medal, P.C.K.), Bintang Kebaktian Masyarakat (Public Service Star, B.K.M.) and Pingat Perkhidmatan Yang Jasa Kebaktian (Meritorious Service Medal, P.J.K.).