AT a time when we're surrounded by dismal events like lack of accountability, disregard for uprightness and the condoning of mediocrity, something comes along to remind us that there's still hope.
I'm referring to the prestigious biennial Merdeka Award, which was started in 2007 to honour extraordinary individuals and organisations that demonstrated exceptional standards and incredible achievements to foster a culture of excellence towards the betterment of Malaysia.
Reflecting the strict selection criteria, this year's award recipients numbered only sixty–two organisations and four high-calibre individuals, out of more than 300 candidates.
Speaking at a recent awards ceremony, Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who is the Royal Patron and Merdeka Award Trust chairman since its inception, said that while Malaysians can celebrate how far they've come since 1957, "we must continue to strive, to struggle and to work together towards a brighter future".
He's also confident that "Malaysians have the talent, tenacity, grit and gumption to make our future both sustainable and equitable".
Petronas President and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik recalled a passage from the first edition of the 2007 Merdeka Award Commemorative book that stated: "Greatness can spring from the most ordinary of roots. What matters is that a seed be first planted and nurtured."
Teach For Malaysia (TFM) was singled out for outstanding contribution in delivering high-quality education in government schools, especially in rural and underprivileged communities.
They were fuelled by the belief that a child's education and future should not be determined by their circumstances in life.
TFM CEO Chan Soon Seng said the award meant so much "because we want to see a Malaysia where all children are leaders of their own learning, their future, and the future of our nation".
Petaling Jaya-based Global Environment Centre (GEC) was chosen for their outstanding contribution in mangrove, peat swamp forest, river and coastal management, climate change programmes and forging community engagement that helped to conserve and protect the environment and natural resources.
GEC Director Faizal Parish, said: "We must take personal ownership of this crisis (in climate change)... because we're borrowing the Earth from our children. We didn't inherit it from our ancestors, so we owe it to our children and grandchildren to leave the planet in a better condition than the way we found it."
Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Siti Zuraina Abdul Majid was selected for outstanding scholastic achievement as a historian and Malaysia's first ever archaeologist who got Lenggong Valley recognised as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage site.
"When I began, archaeology was little known then.
"There were no Indiana Jones movies, and there were hardly any real archaeologists either... but there was Harrison Ford!"
Datuk Professor Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman was chosen for her role in health, science and technology, as well as in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and structuring policies and responses that led to their prevention, treatment and reduction.
Dr Adeeba dedicated her award to all healthcare professionals in Malaysia, who in the last two and a half years had worked tirelessly to overcome the horrors of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to her colleagues at Universiti Malaya, the Malaysian AIDS Council and Foundation and International AIDS Society, "for without their dedication, hard work and support I would not be able to do half the things I do, and for which I ended up receiving these accolades".
Datuk Dr Annabel Teh Gallop, was named for her contribution to the people of Malaysia category through her scholarly research, curation, archiving and preservation of ancient Malay letters, manuscripts, seals and documents which led to an understanding of the Malay language as the language of trade and diplomacy throughout the Malay Archipelago, and the illumination of the rich heritage of the Malay world.
She believed that these manuscripts would enable Malaysians to have a better understanding of all the waves of influences that came together to create this wonderful country.
Educationist Samuel Isaiah was the recipient of a new category, Anugerah Harapan Merdeka, which recognises the efforts of Malaysians aged 40 and below or organisations which have
been established for less than 10 years.
Samuel, who was recognised for his commitment in improving and uplifting the standard of education among Orang Asli children, and in coaching teachers to elevate the overall quality of education, believes that improvement in education in Malaysia could only be achieved through systemic change.
There's still hope.
The writer is a former Bernama chief executive officer and editor-in-chief
