From left - Ahmad, Cheah, Goh, Haresh.
KUALA LUMPUR: Instead of talking about our differences, let us celebrate our similarities.
This was the message on racial unity seasoned criminal lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar wants every Malaysian to always remember.
"All Malaysians are full of kindness but sometimes due to pride and other factors, we do not show it openly.
"However, if they look deep down into their hearts, they will see how much they can do for each other," he said after being selected to receive the prestigious National Press Club - Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award for the month of September for his kind deed 25 years ago in reaching out to help a single mother who was caught for shoplifting a pencil box for her then 10-year-old son.
At the event which was held at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel on Jalan Tun Razak at noon on Tuesday, the seasoned criminal lawyer who was accompanied by his wife Datin Raja Adzfa Wati Azman and their daughter Wan Norhadzwani, also received RM2,000 with the award.
Macrokiosk CEO Datuk Kenny Goh who commended Ahmad Zaharil for helping the woman said the seasoned criminal lawyer had demonstrated the spirit of muhibbah.
"His actions inspire and encourage us to be kinder and helpful Malaysians," he said.
National Press Club deputy president Haresh Deol said Ahmad Zaharil deserved the award and all Malaysians should heed his advice on celebrating the similarities the various races share instead of worrying about their differences.
Also present at the event was Bar Council president Karen Cheah.
In a press conference, Ahmad Zaharil said he never expected any recognition for his efforts at any point after the case and had even forgotten about it.
"I am truly honoured to receive this award and it is timely as we celebrate Malaysia Day on Saturday," he said.
The lawyer who regularly carries out charity work said he will use the prize money he received for the homeless.
"Every sen of the prize money will be channelled to my Chow Kit charity work where I feed about 150 homeless folks at least twice a month.
"It is unbelievable that there are people in the heart of KL who go hungry everyday," he said.
The heart-warming and exclusive story which was carried by The Star told of how Ahmad Zaharil had mitigated for the woman in court and secured her release in 1998.
He said he had chosen to help the woman out of concern her son might end up at a welfare home if she went to jail.
Twenty-five years later, the woman's son, now a practising lawyer, looks up Ahmad Zaharil, introduces himself and rekindles what his mother had shared with him, referring to the incident as the "pencil box" case.
Ever since then, the young lawyer and his mother have stayed in touch with Ahmad Zaharil, paying visits to each other during Hari Raya and Deepavali.
The National Press Club-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award is a monthly award given to examplary Malaysians who carry out kind deeds in the spirit of muhibbah or unity.
