Saidina Abu Bakar As-siddiq Mosque Wins Inaugural Npc-macrokiosk Muhibbah Award

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- The Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque’s (MSABA) in Bangsar here was honoured with the inaugural National Press Club-MACROKIOSK Muhibbah Award today for reaching out to the community regardless of race, religion or creed.

Judges comprising media editors have recognised MSABA’s initiatives for fostering the spirit of ‘muhibbah’ (goodwill) over recent years, the latest of which inviting a Sikh doctor from the Health Ministry to lecture the congregation on quitting smoking during Ramadan.

National Press Club of Malaysia (NPC) president Datuk Ahirudin Attan in presenting the award said the award initiative by NPC and MACROKIOSK was to acknowledge efforts at fostering goodwill and friendship irrespective of race, religion or nationality.

“Through this award, we hope to rekindle the spirit of muhibbah and help create a stronger, more resilient and more united Malaysia. These goals are not only the responsibility of leaders but also that of everyone in Malaysia.

“A truly muhibbah Malaysia can only be attained through the collective efforts of us all, both in this room and beyond,” he said in a statement, today.

The monthly award series was launched last month by NPC together with enterprise solutions platform provider, MACROKIOSK to recognise any individual, group or organisation that best exemplifies the true spirit of muhibbah in Malaysia where groups of media editors take turns to evaluate nominees for the award.

MACROKIOSK chief executive officer Datuk Kenny Goh in congratulating the winner said the mosque’s activities have impressed the judges as it embodied the spirit of muhibbah.

“We hope this award will continue to inspire others to further inculcate muhibbah as our Malaysian way of life,” he said.

Meanwhile MSABA chief Imam, Zakaria Yahya said the mosque administration is deeply honored to receive the recognition and will continue to spread the muhibbah spirit among the community.

He said some of the mosque's muhibbah activities included hosting a Unity Iftar for 30 non-Muslims from Bangsar, muhibbah dinner for 20 community leaders in conjunction with Chinese New Year, as well as holding a Harmony Programme where the mosque distributed essentials and ang pows to the B40 community.

The award carries a cash prize of RM2,000, a certificate and vouchers.

-- BERNAMA