Award to honour Permata withdrawn

PETALING JAYA: An award to honour early childhood programme Permata at an event to be held during the United Nations general assembly this week in New York has been withdrawn.

The New York Times reported that a statement on Sunday from Tudor Parfitt, a scholar involved in the event, confirmed that the honour had been withdrawn.

The statement said that questions had been raised about the sources of Permata's funding, and that although the event organisers were not aware of any specific wrongdoing, they did not have time to vet the organisation, according to NYT.

The report said the event is co-hosted by the head of Unesco, Irina Bokova, and as she is running to be secretary-general of the UN, her actions are also being closely scrutinised.

The event, to be held on Thursday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, honours people and groups that have fought extremism.

The Permata programme for early childood education is a brainchild of its patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Bernama reported that Rosmah has been selected to receive Unesco’s 'Lead by Example' award in conjunction with the UNGA.

The award was conferred in recognition of Rosmah's efforts in developing the potential of children, especially through the Permata programme.