THE MALAYSIA SAI ORGANISATION RECEIVES
‘NSTP-PwC MALAYSIAN TEAM HUMANITARIAN AWARD’

It is extremely heartening to share the wonderful news that the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Central Council of Malaysia was awarded the prestigious 3rd NSTP-PwC Malaysian Humanitarian Award (MHA) on 5th December, 2006. The award seeks to bring national attention and accord recognition to Malaysians who have demonstrated outstanding public service and selfless deeds of a humanitarian nature. It was a further honour that YAB DatoSeri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, presented the award to the Sai Council.

The award is named after its sponsors: The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhard (affectionately known as NSTP) is Malaysia’s oldest and largest newspaper publisher, while PricewaterhouseCoopers is an internationally renowned accounting firm that provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services for its clients across 149 countries.

The NSTP-PwC Malaysian Humanitarian Award (MHA) honours humanitarian acts and deeds that would otherwise go unrecognised and in the process hopes to promote humanitarian principles and values.

This year saw a total of fifty-two nominees being selected across three categories of the award, viz:

(a) Young Humanitarian Award
(b) Team Humanitarian Award
(c) Lifetime Humanitarian Award

The Certificate		Receiving the cash award

The Sai Council of Malaysia won the runners-up of the Team Humanitarian Award.

All nominations were first verified by a professional consultant firm – The Liaison Combination Sdn Bhd (TLC) to ensure that only nominees who have met all criteria are eligible for judging by the Panel of Judges.

The Panel of Judges comprised of prominent and highly respected residents of Malaysia such as:

1. Dato’ Paul Leong (Chief Judge) – the Minister of Primary Industries from 1978 – 1986 and a Member of Parliament from 1974 – 1990. He is currently an Independent Director of Air Asia Bhd, Executive Deputy Chairman of Sin Chew Media Corporation and Director of SBB Asset Management Sdn Bhd.

2. Mr. Kerk Kim Hock – member of the National Unity Advisory Panel. He was the former DAP Secretary General and Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka.

3. Mr. Morten Lundal – CEO of DIGI.COM Berhad and DIGI Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.

4. Dato’ Faridah Merican – often referred to as the “First Lady of Malaysian Theatre”. She has carved an enduring niche as a theatre producer, director and actor.

5. Puan Sri T Ampikaipakan – a well known educationist and trainer.   She is also a trustee of the Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor.

The serene ceremony was attended by representatives of many social voluntary organizations as well as captains of industries from the corporate sector of the country.

When Mr. Billy Fong Goon Poy, the President of the Sai Council of Malaysia, was called onto the stage to receive the award from the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the citation on the Sai Organisation read out by the master of ceremony noted that:

“The Sathya Sai Baba Central Council of Malaysia promotes human values across religious and social borders. It provides selfless service to the poor, sick and needy, promotes human values to youth and society at large as well as inter-racial and inter-religious harmony amongst the younger generation.”

Mr. Poy received a certificate of acknowledgement as well as the cheque of RM10,000.00 on behalf of all the dedicated members of the Sai Council of Malaysia. With joy and humility, Mr. Poy said,

“We are proud and very happy of the fact that the judges have recognized the good work done by our Sai Organisation for nation building. We are also proud of the fact that Bhagavan’s name has been recognized and glorified. This award is indeed a great honour for all of us in the Sai Movement in Malaysia. The credit for this award should go to all the active workers of our Sai Centres and Bhajan units. It is the collective report of all the selfless service work, the human values and interfaith activities done by all the active workers, that has won our Sai Organisation this prestigious award. The money that we received will be used to further enhance our Human Values and Service activities. On behalf of all the active workers of the Sai Council of Malaysia who should have actually been on stage to receive this recognition, we offer this award at the Lotus Feet of our beloved Lord”

Walking on the path set by Bhagawan, the brothers and sisters of the Sai Council of Malaysia, have been working over the past many years on various projects for the betterment of the people of Malaysia. It is a therefore a fitting mark of recognition that the Prime Minister of Malaysia gave this award to the Sai Organisation. We at Heart2Heart share the joy of the Sai family in Malaysia and around the world that good deeds, good thoughts and good words have been appreciated at the highest level and we pray that this will inspire many more projects of service that will transform the nation and the world.

- Heart2Heart Team