KUALA LUMPUR: Former Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Monir Yaacob has been named the national-level Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah.
The award is given in recognition of his contributions to the Malaysian Muslim community.
Abdul Monir, 77, is known for presenting a working paper for Prof Tan Sri Ahmad Ibrahim at Harvard University in 1997.
He is also noted for being a commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and informing Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail that Muslim prisoners were unable to perform their daily prayers because they were given short pants as their attire.
Asked about the current political climate in the country, Abdul Monir said Malaysians should find ways to stay united despite being exposed to divisive statements from some political members.
"The country will always be divided as long as some politicians spread hate and negativity about others," he told reporters during the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (July 19).
"We should not bring up sensitive issues such as those concerning 3R (race, religion and royalty) and should find ways to stay united and together through it all," he added.
Abdul Monir also encouraged people to never stop learning as the world, he said, is an endless field of knowledge for everyone to understand and appreciate.
"We need a life filled with challenges to avoid being complacent in our everyday lives. Therefore, we should never stop making an effort in everything that we do," he said.
Meanwhile, the International Tokoh Maal Hijrah award was given to Grand Mufti Al-Allamah Sheikh Abu Bakr Ahmad for being an influential religious figure for the Sunni Muslim community in India and abroad.
Sheikh Abu Bakr, 92, is the general secretary of the All-India Muslim Scholars Association, one of the country's largest organisations of Islamic scholars.
He is also the founder of Islamic University Jamia Markaz, which is the biggest education centre in Asia and provides education to students in 130 institutions in India and other countries.
Both Abdul Monir and Sheikh Abu Bakr were presented the award by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as well as several senior ministers.
The theme of this year's Maal Hijrah national celebration is "Perpaduan Teras Malaysia Madani" (Unity is the Core of Malaysia Madani).
