The Maal Hijrah award

Wednesday February 1, 2006

The Maal Hijrah award
PETALING JAYA: The national ``Maal Hijrah Award'' was introduced 1987, in appreciation of outstanding individuals who contributed enormously to the development of Islam in the country.

To be considered for the award, the individuals must be known for their exemplary behaviour and have extensive knowledge of Islam. The candidates' leadership must also be well accepted by the community.

Since its inception, 16 individuals had received the award with the first recipient being the late Syeikh Mohd Idris Abdul Rauf al-Marbawi. Several corporate figures had also been bestowed with the recognition.

They include the late Raja Tun Mohar Raja Badiozaman in 1992, while academician Royal Prof Ungku Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid received it in 1997.

Penang

Septuagenarian Gayah Osman, 70, was accorded the Penang "Ibu Mithali" (Exemplary Mother) award. Gayah gave up her teaching career in the early 1950s to look after her 10-school going children.

She had to work night and day to send her children to school after her husband ended their 26 years of marriage.

“I feel so happy today. All my life I worked hard and parental care is important,” said Gayah.

Abdullah Abdul Rahman, 71, was given the Bapa Mithali (Exemplary Father) award.

The father of five is actively involved in community works especially in drug rehabilitation efforts. He is also a member of the Bagan Ajam Village Safety and Security Committee.

Datuk Ibrahim Yahaya - the former Kedah and Pahang education director was named the state’s Tokoh Maal Hijrah.

Irman Kang Abdullah, 46, a Muslim convert, was given the Saudara Kita award. Irman, of Chinese origin from Jelutong, is a businessman.

Jamiul Badawi Mosque in Kepala Batas received a special award with cash prize of RM5,000, for being the best mosque in the state.

Negri Sembilan

Tan Sri S.M Nasimuddin S.M Amin was named Tokoh Maal Hijrah.

Born on Jan 25, 1955 in Kuala Pilah, S.M. Nasimuddin started working in a transportation company and started his own business in 1976 by selling reconditioned cars. Subsequently, he expanded his business and founded the Naza group of companies.

He is now a well-known figure in the automotive industry.

“It was a big surprise and I am very happy to be given the award. It means a lot to me and I am very proud to be from Negri Sembilan,” he said after receiving the award.

Former Telekom chairman Tan Sri Rashdan Baba, Ustaz Muhammad Fuad Kamaludin, Professor Datuk Dr Baharudin Yatim of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob received the special awards.

Perak

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Associate Professor Datuk Dr Siddiq Fadzil was given the Tokoh Maal Hijrah award.

Corporate figure, Tan Sri Basir Ismail received a special Maal Hijrah award for the establishment of Masjid Ikhwaniah - a RM2mil mosque in Simpang, Taiping

Kedah

Retired teacher and freelance religious speaker Syeikh Abdul Hamid Md Tahir, 64, was named this year’s `Tokoh Maal Hijrah’ for Kedah. Syeikh Abdul Hamid, from Kampung Tanjung in Kupang, Baling, was chosen for his contributions in propagating Islam and holding Quran recital classes. He was also involved in a Kedah FM radio programme to teach Quran reading to the listeners.

“I am honoured to receive the award as it shows that the state acknowledged my contributions,” he said.

Pahang

Datuk Dr Abdul Monir Yaacob, 60, received the Maal Hijrah Peronality award. The Universiti Malaya Islamic lecturer comes from Temerloh.