Lam Thye wins Maulidur Rasul Award
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye receiving the award from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, during the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, here.-Bernama
By Teoh Pei Ying, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi
November 9, 2019 @ 6:35pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye who received the 2019 Maulidur Rasul Award today said it would motivate him further to champion safety and health in the community.
The former chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) said it was recognition for his contribution in community safety and well-being for the past 45 years.
He said he would continue his work under Alliance of Safe Community (Ikatan), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that focuses on educating the community, regardless of race and religion, on the importance of safety and health.
“I will continue to work with government departments and agencies along with Ikatan and other NGOs for the country and the community,” he said after receiving the award from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, during the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, here.
The Eco World Foundation chairman said improving safety in tahfiz schools was also on his list.
“When I was NIOSH chairman, we had come out with a safety guideline for these schools.
“However, cases such as fires are still common at tahfiz schools.
“I will work together with the experts at Ikatan to share their knowledge and experience on safety aspects with tahfiz schools operators,” Lee added.
He also called on Malaysians to be compassionate to one another as that was the only way to promote harmony and peace in the country.
Lee was the only non-Muslim recipient of the award this year.
Previous non-Muslim Maulidur Rasul award recipients include author, lecturer and activist Dr Lim Swee Tin, Fire and Rescue Department officer Liew Tong Sin, and Mount Kinabalu park ranger Mithun Jay Langgim who rescued 135 climbers during the 2015 Sabah earthquake.
Three other recipients of the national-level Maulidur Rasul Award this year were academician Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, Hospital Mesra Ibadah pioneer Datuk Dr Khalid Ibrahim, and humanitarian activist Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid. They each received RM20,000, a trophy and a certificate.
Syariah law expert Datuk Seri Daud Muhammad was chosen as the recipient of the 2019 Maulidur Rasul Perdana Award.
He received RM50,000, a trophy and a certificate.
In thanking the King and the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for the award, Daud said he hoped the government would implement Syariah Criminal Law as it was important to uphold the moral values of the community.
“I hope this will become a reality. Non-Muslims should not be worried as the Syariah law will only apply to Muslims,” he added.
Dr Asma said the award was significant and a gift to her mother who celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday.
“She is my role model. Without her support and motivation, I would not be who I am today.
“My mother always taught me about having inner strength and how it can help a woman succeed in life.
“The award will motivate me to continue my work as an educator and researcher.
“I am an advocate of hi-tech hi-touch, it’s pointless to create technology that cannot help the society.
“Besides, education needs to be balanced with knowledge and moral virtues to help the future generation become global players.”
