KUALA LUMPUR: 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.
“All Malaysians are full of kindness, but sometimes, due to pride and other factors, we do not show it openly. If they look deep down into their hearts, they will see how much they can do for each other,” he said 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.
Ahmad Zaharil, who attended the event on Tuesday at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in Jalan Tun Razak with his wife Datin Raja Adzfa Wati Azman and their daughter, Wan Norhadzwani, also received a RM2,000 prize along with the award.
Macrokiosk CEO Datuk Kenny Goh, who commended Ahmad Zaharil for helping the woman, said the latter had demonstrated the spirit of muhibbah.
“His actions inspire and encourage us to be kinder and more helpful Malaysians,” he said.
National Press Club deputy president Haresh Deol said Ahmad Zaharil deserves the award and all Malaysians should heed his advice on celebrating the similarities the various races share instead of worrying about their differences.
Also present at the event was Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah.
At a press conference, Ahmad Zaharil said he never expected any recognition for his efforts at any point after the case and had even forgotten about it.
“I am truly honoured to receive this award and it is timely as we celebrate Malaysia Day on Saturday,” he said.
The lawyer, who regularly carries out charity work, said he will use the prize money he received for the homeless.
“Every sen of the prize money will be channelled to my Chow Kit charity work where I feed about 150 homeless folks at least twice a month.
“It is unbelievable that there are people in the heart of KL who go hungry every day,” he said.
The heartwarming and exclusive story that was carried by The Star told of how Ahmad Zaharil had mitigated for the woman in court and secured her release in 1998.
He said he had chosen to help the woman out of concern that her son might end up at a welfare home if she went to jail.
Twenty-five years have since passed, and the woman’s son, who is currently working as a lawyer, went in search of Ahmad Zaharil.
He introduced himself to Ahmad Zaharil and brought up the topic that his mother had shared with him, referring to it as the “pencil box” case.
Ever since then, the young lawyer and his mother have stayed in touch with Ahmad Zaharil, paying visits to each other during Hari Raya and Deepavali.
The National Press Club-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award is a monthly award given to Malaysians who carry out kind deeds in the spirit of muhibbah, or unity.
