All smiles: Judges (from left) Prathab, Vijayakumari, Lee, Star Media Group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, Salena and Muhammad Hafizul Khair posing for a group photo after the judging session at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) judges have reflected on the growing number of unsung heroes who have made a lasting impact on society.
In celebrating SGHA’s 10th anniversary, chief judge Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who has led the panel since the award’s inception, said he had seen many unsung heroes nominated by Malaysians throughout the country.
“It is an honour for me to be a part of the SGHA,” Lee said when met after the final judging session at Menara Star here.
“I am both proud and happy to have been given the privilege to serve as the chief judge for this very meaningful award.”
The prominent social activist has been a staunch supporter of recognising unsung heroes through the years.
“The SGHA is an excellent platform to give due recognition and to also recognise these unsung heroes for their contributions to the community and their efforts to protect the environment,” said Lee, who is also Alliance for a Safe Community chairman.
He said he hoped the award would inspire more social enterprises and individuals to display kindness and compassion towards their fellow Malaysians.
Star Media Group chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng said it was increasingly difficult to select the top 10 winners since each nominee had their own strengths.
“Each year, we have more nominees coming in and it is getting more difficult for us to choose, especially since everyone is so good.
“The only thing that differentiate them is what they focus on and fight for,” she said.
Ng said she would also constantly ask herself about the nominee’s focus and how they stood out from the rest.
“Each has their own strengths and I’m very impressed with every one of them,” she said, adding that everyone was a winner in their own right.
“If we look at the number of the nominees this year, the ones we went through only make up about 5%. They should be very proud of themselves,” she said.
Ng also said the quality of nominees had improved throughout her six years of judging.
She also hoped that SGHA would reach a wider audience.
“Many are doing things on their own and are not seeking to get an award. But it’s our job to recognise these unsung heroes,” she said.
Impressed: Ng says each nominee should be proud of the work they are doing. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
Another judge, social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi, said after the Covid-19 pandemic, many individuals and groups shifted towards more sustainable efforts.
“Anything can just happen, and it’s gone. Even the public understands and joins forces to ensure the cause is sustainable,” he said.
Syed Azmi also said this year’s nominees were “serious heavyweights” in the charitable field.
“They need more coverage to promote their selfless acts and initiatives and also for The Star to bring their efforts to the public,” he said.
For those who did not win, he also emphasised that everyone was a winner in their own right.
“No amount of acknowledgment is needed. But besides the financial support and recognition, the network and contacts they gain are priceless.
“Your time will come! I believe in you!” he added.
Former Social Welfare Department assistant director Vijayakumari Pillai, who has been a judge for six years, was particularly impressed with this year’s nominees.
“This is the first time I have seen this kind of work done. I am very happy they have been nominated,” she said.
She commended nominees from Sabah and Sarawak, highlighting the remarkable work done by locals in both states.
For Vijayakumari, SGHA holds special significance as she firmly believes that unsung heroes must be recognised.
“The public is so happy that these people have done so much for them, so they nominate them.
“They are truly unsung heroes and they definitely deserve the recognition,” she said.
Returning for his second year as a judge, Institut Keusahawanan Negara social entrepreneurship unit manager Muhammad Hafizul Khair Mohd Yusuf had nothing but praise for the nominees.
“The work that they’ve done is amazing. I think it is not easy to do all these things without any recognition. They do it purely from the heart,” he said.
He also noted that SGHA has come a long way since its first year with this year’s 511 nominations marking a significant milestone.
Muhammad Hafizul Khair added that the judging process places a strong emphasis on the impact of the nominees’ work on their communities.
“Impact is one of the key criteria in the judging process, followed by innovation and originality,” he said.
He said originality was highly valued under SGHA and it showed the various ways people find solutions and make meaningful contributions.
First-time judge and ESG Right principal consultant Prathab V. expressed his admiration for the diversity of the work done by the nominees.
“I’m very impressed to see many nominees reaching out to underprivileged communities, working mothers, single mothers and even the Orang Asli groups,” he said.
Prathab added that he was especially touched by initiatives that included Orang Asli communities in economic activities that help generate income for them.
He encouraged those who did not win to continue their work, assuring them that their efforts would be recognised in the future.
“You should keep doing your good work and not be discouraged at not winning an award,” he said.
Another first-time judge, Suri Inspirasi founder and chief executive officer Salena Ahmad, described her experience judging the SGHA as a “valuable learning opportunity”.
“I learned a lot during the judging process. I gained a great deal from other experienced judges,” she said.
Salena highlighted the increased involvement of non-governmental organisations, social entrepreneurs and individuals who have stepped up in recent years.
“I can see a lot of impact not only on communities but also on the environment and animal welfare. I’m especially focused on the impact of these initiatives on the environment,” she said.
SGHA is an annual award by The Star that celebrates everyday Malaysians who make a positive impact on society while promoting unity among the people.
Each year, more inspiring stories come to light, and the judges face a challenging but rewarding task of selecting those whose work deserves the spotlight.
This year, over 500 nominations were received from all over Malaysia, including organisations and individuals working for environment and wildlife, social welfare, community empowerment and education.
A total of 10 winners will be presented with a trophy and a cash award of RM15,000 each.
The winners will be announced in November.
They will also receive exclusive media publicity across Star Media Group’s various platforms to amplify their selfless efforts.
