Instead of talking about our differences, let us celebrate our similarities. This is the message on racial unity that kind-hearted lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar wants every Malaysian to always remember.
Ahmad Zaharil said on Tuesday (Sept 12) after receiving the National Press Club-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award for the month of September for his kind deed 25 years ago in reaching out to help a single mother who was caught shoplifting a pencil box for her then 10-year-old son.
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Ahmad Zaharil said on Tuesday (Sept 12) after receiving the National Press Club-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award for the month of September for his kind deed 25 years ago in reaching out to help a single mother who was caught shoplifting a pencil box for her then 10-year-old son.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/mr3m3rc6
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Instead of talking about our differences, let us celebrate our similarities.
00:06 This is the message on racial unity that kind-hearted lawyer,
00:10 Tato Amat Zahariya Muhaya, wants every Malaysian to always remember.
00:15 All Malaysians are kind.
00:18 It is a question of we have to dig into our soul and say,
00:21 "Yes, I'm a very kind person."
00:24 All of us, all of us. It is inside our heart.
00:28 But sometimes, you know, because of ego, because of whatever, you know,
00:34 we refuse and neglect to show it.
00:37 Actually, it is in us.
00:40 Amat Zahariya said that after receiving the National Press Club Macro-Kiosk Muhibba Award
00:46 for the month of September for his kind deed 25 years ago
00:51 in reaching out to help a single mother who was caught shoplifting a pencil box
00:56 for her then 10-year-old son.
00:58 At the event which was held on Tuesday, Amat Zahariya,
01:02 who was accompanied by his wife Datin Raja Azfar Wati Azman
01:07 and their daughter Wan Nohat Zwani, also received RM2000 prize with the award.
01:13 Macro-Kiosk CEO Tato Kenny Goh, who commended Amat Zahariya for helping the woman,
01:19 said the letter had demonstrated the spirit of Muhibba.
01:24 Let me commend Datuk Amat Zahariya Muhayang for his decision and reach out
01:30 and rescue a mother in distress over a shoplifting case
01:35 that brought together two families from different backgrounds.
01:40 This is the heartwarming tale of Muhibba and how justice was tempered with mercy by the court.
01:48 National Press Club Deputy President Harish Diao said Amat Zahariya deserved the award
01:55 and all Malaysians should heed his advice on celebrating the similarities
02:00 the various races share instead of worrying about their differences.
02:05 Also present at the event was Malaysian Bar President Karen Cha.
02:10 Amat Zahariya said he never expected any recognition for his efforts at any point after the case
02:17 and had even forgotten about it.
02:20 After 25 years, this thing happened. I'm speechless.
02:28 But the ratio is, why we have to wait for 25 years? Why?
02:36 Amat Zahariya added that he was truly honoured to receive the award,
02:40 that it was timely as the nation celebrates Malaysia Day on Saturday.
02:45 The lawyer who regularly carries out charity work said he will use the prize money he received
02:51 for his Chowkid charity work where he feeds about 150 homeless folks at least twice a month.
02:59 He said he had chosen to help the woman out of concern her son might end up at a welfare home if she went to jail.
03:07 25 years later, the woman's son, now a practising lawyer, looks up Amat Zahariya,
03:13 introduces himself and rekindles what his mother had shared with him,
03:18 referring to the incident as the "pencil box case".
03:22 Ever since then, the young lawyer and his mother have stayed in touch with Amat Zahariya,
03:28 paying visits to each other during Hari Raya and Deepavali.
03:32 The National Press Club Macro-Kiosk Muhibba Award is a monthly award given to exemplary Malaysians
03:39 who carry out kind deeds in the spirit of muhibba or unity.
03:44 For more information visit www.nbc.gov.uk/news/daily-news