Zamirul (right) congratulating Amirul and wife Syarina on their muhibbah award.
A COUPLE’s courageous act to help rescue two boys from a burning shop has won the hearts of media editors sitting as judges for the National Press Club-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Awards.
Convenience store worker Amirul Husni Afendey, 25, and his wife, factory worker Nur Syarina Muhammad Noor, 23, were picked as the winner for August for helping a man and his two young sons escape a shophouse that had caught fire.
National Press Club of Malaysia (NPC) president Datuk Ahirudin Attan said the couple displayed the spirit of muhibbah for selflessly helping others.
“The winner is worthy of the award as the judges acknowledge and reward their courageous efforts to help a fellow human being in trouble.
“They did so without expecting any recognition or reward.
“Amirul and Syarina have displayed exactly the kind of muhibbah spirit that we set out to recognise and encourage,” he said in a statement.
NPC and Macrokiosk launched the award series in April to recognise any individual, group or organisation that best exemplifies the muhibbah spirit in Malaysia.
Groups of media editors take turns to evaluate nominees for the award.
Macrokiosk chief executive officer Datuk Kenny Goh said, “It is great to see that our initiative with NPC is helping to set off a revival of the muhibbah spirit, noticing noble acts such as (the one) by Amirul and Syarina that rarely get heard of.
“We hope this award will continue to inspire others as well as impact future generations to further inculcate muhibbah as our Malaysian way of life.”
Amirul thanked the NPC and Macrokiosk for the award and said, “Never in our wildest dreams did we expect our deed to be recognised. This award will motivate us to continue helping others in need, and hopefully inspires others to live the muhibbah way as true Malaysians.”
In the incident that occurred in Pagoh, Johor on the morning of July 6, Amirul had sent Syarina to wait for a factory bus on the main road opposite a row of shops.
Suddenly, Syarina noticed black smoke coming from one of the shophouses which was owned by a local named Zamirul Suahimi.
Moments later, Zamirul opened a window on the upper floor of the shophouse asking for help while carrying his sons Muhammad Firas Syahmi, 10, and Muhammad Harith, four.
Without thinking, Amirul and Syarina ran to catch the children, who landed safely in their arms.
However, Zamirul, who then jumped from the same floor, injured his hand as he collided with a zinc structure.
He also suffered burns to his ear, eyelid and mouth, as well as swelling around his neck.
He was treated at the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar.
In the incident, 10 shophouses comprising a sundry shop, two motorcycle shops, a home appliances shop and a house ended up in flames.
The NPC-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award carries a cash prize of RM2,000, certificate and vouchers from brands such as Tealive, Jaya Grocer and llaollao.
