‘Icons’ to go on roadshow to inspire others

KUALA LUMPUR: The Maulidur Rasul award recipients, Malaysia’s new icons, will go around the country to share their success with the people, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.  

“With the cooperation of Jakim (Malaysian Islamic Development Department), we will take our new icons on a roadshow to encourage others,” he told a press conference after the National Maulidur Rasul celebration yesterday.  

The five are disabled straight As student Nor Umairah Ahmad Jamhari, Malaysia’s first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, Malaysia’s first cardiothoracic surgeon Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang, Malaysia’s first disabled Senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh and the first Malaysian woman to scale Mount Everest Marina Ahmad.  

Each of them received prize money of RM5,000, a plaque and a certificate of recognition. 

Ahmad Zahid said the roadshow, aimed at school and higher learning institute students, would start after the recipients agreed on a date. 

He also said there were plans to raise the value of the prize for the recipients beginning next year.