A group known as Taiping Soup Kitchen which is a multi-racial group that serves meals from its Sikh temple base won the National Press Club (NPC)-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award for July.
They received the award from State Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan who represented Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, here today.
Sivanesan said the initiative by NPC and Macro Kiosk Berhad (Macrokiosk) to recognise many unsung heroes of the muhibbah spirit was a timely reminder for everyone to foster goodwill and friendship regardless of race, religion or even nationality.
He said citizens need to inculcate the spirit of muhibbah (goodwill), especially among the younger Malaysians in this modern age whereby people are more connected through gadgets than in real life.
“Let us rekindle the feeling of being a close-knit and united Malaysian community once again where neighbours care for each other,” he said at a press conference after the award presentation.
The multi-racial group won the vote of the judges, who are editors and senior journalists from various media houses.
NPC president Datuk Ahirudin Attan, who was represented by its deputy president Haresh Deol today, in a statement said the group was most deserving of the award having consistently displayed the spirit of muhibbah by serving hot meals to the under-privileged irrespective of their background or creed.
“By coincidence, our May winner was a mosque, followed by the June winner being an educational institution started by a Christian pastor and his wife. Today, we stand in a gurdwara to acknowledge the work of a multi-racial group operating from this Sikh temple,” he said.
Macrokiosk chief executive officer Datuk Kenny Goh in congratulating the winner said the group’s efforts to serve the community better with highly motivated multi-racial volunteers have impressed the judges as they had indeed embodied the spirit of muhibbah, and hoped the award will draw more attention of volunteers to join the noble effort.
Meanwhile the Taiping Soup Kitchen co-founder Datuk Balraaj Singh Tarlachon Singh said it was an honour to have their efforts recognised and the award will motivate them further to serve and hope to get more volunteers as they continue to live the muhibbah way as true Malaysians.
The NPC-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award carries a cash prize of RM2,000, a certificate and vouchers from top regional lifestyle tea brand Tealive, leading lifestyle fresh market brand Jaya Grocer and top natural yoghurt brand llaollao.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
