Tengku Amir (standing, centre) witnessing the MOU signing between SAY and Nestle Malaysia. Representing SAY and Nestle Malaysia are their respective chief executive officers Aiman Nazri (seated second from left) and Juan Aranols (seated second from right). — Photos: ART CHEN/The Star
24-year-old wins King’s Trust regional sustainability award for Asia
MALAYSIA has gained fame in the international landscape thanks to a young man’s leadership in a mangrove-planting initiative.
Kelantan-born Muhammad Amirul Mukminin Rozaili is the regional winner of the 2024 King’s Trust Sustainability Award for Asia.
He was a participant of a development programme initiated by Selangor Youth Community (SAY) in 2020 in partnership with The King’s Trust International, a non-profit foundation founded by UK monarch King Charles III.
Team Programme Malaysia involves a nine-week journey training participants in five stages, namely induction, residential, community, work placement and marketability.
Muhammad Amirul, 24, who discovered the programme online, said his parents were very encouraging towards him joining the programme.
He also signed up because he wanted to be a role model for his younger siblings.
Participation in Team Programme Malaysia helped him be a confident voice in group discussions, and his passion for the environment shone through.
Muhammad Amirul often guided his team in a green community initiative focusing on planting mangrove trees as a flood prevention strategy.
Tengku Amir handing the 2024 King’s Trust Sustainability Award for Asia to Muhammad Amirul.
The Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) biodiversity graduate now works at non-governmental organisation Tropical Rainforest Conservation Research Centre (TRCRC) in Kuala Lumpur.
A reception was held in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, to celebrate Muhammad Amirul’s achievement.
The event was graced by SAY founder and patron Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
During a question-and-answer session with the media, Muhammad Amirul called on youths who were interested in Team Programme Malaysia to showcase their commitment and interest.
“With interest comes the spirit; with spirit comes the effort; and with effort comes success,” he said.
At the event, Nestle Malaysia was also awarded Most Supportive Corporate Partner while both Social Security Organisation (Socso) and TRCRC received Most Supportive Employment Partner titles.
SAY also formalised its partnership with Nestle Malaysia by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was witnessed by Tengku Amir.
SAY is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organisation that strives to produce a dynamic, progressive and energetic youth community.
As of 2023, SAY has had a positive impact on 369,388 youths, with a 78% positive outcome in their employment education training and 81% skills improvement in aspects of confidence, leadership and communications.
