Astronaut, Motivational Expert Among Tokoh Maal Hijrah Recipients
From Bernama:
SEREMBAN, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha was today named the "Tokoh Maal Hijrah" for Negeri Sembilan.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 35, the orthopaedic surgeon who travelled to the International Space Station onboard Soyuz TMA-II spacecraft in October, said that the success and the award would go a long way in instilling self-confidence among the people.
"If I can achieve my dream, others too can achieve theirs," he said after receiving the award from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebrations here.
Also present were the Tuanku Ampuan of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who was touched by the award, said it would inspire him in his nationwide tour to motivate the young to take up science and mathematics.
Commenting on the award for the spaceman, Mohamad said that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was not only the pride of the nation, but also of the Muslim communities around the world.
"His success sets the best example for our young generation to emulate," he said.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 35, the orthopaedic surgeon who travelled to the International Space Station onboard Soyuz TMA-II spacecraft in October, said that the success and the award would go a long way in instilling self-confidence among the people.
"If I can achieve my dream, others too can achieve theirs," he said after receiving the award from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebrations here.
Also present were the Tuanku Ampuan of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who was touched by the award, said it would inspire him in his nationwide tour to motivate the young to take up science and mathematics.
Commenting on the award for the spaceman, Mohamad said that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was not only the pride of the nation, but also of the Muslim communities around the world.
"His success sets the best example for our young generation to emulate," he said.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is the second "Tokoh Maal Hijrah" recipient for Negeri Sembilan who is not from those with religious background, after corporate figure Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin S.M. Amin, the Naza group chairman, two years ago.
Meanwhile motivational expert Datuk Dr Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah, 57, who was named the Selangor Tokoh Maal Hijrah in recognition of his contributions towards family and human capital development, said he was touched by the award.
"This award comes with a heavy responsibility because the expectation from the public will be higher and they will now be looking a lot more closely at the way we speak and act," he said.
Tengku Indera Setia Tengku Datuk Seri Ahmad Shah, representing his elder brother, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, presented the award to Dr Mohd Fadzilah at the Selangor Maal Hijrah celebrations at Masjid Jamiul Ihsani, in Sijangkang, near Kuala Langat.
Dr Mohd Fadzilah, who was born in Kampung Sungai Pinang, Klang, began his career as a lecturer at the University Putra Malaysia in 1977.
In 1993, he set up a firm to provide motivational and family development consultancy.
He has so far produced 27 video compact discs containing motivational talks, 28 books, 29 articles related to motivational and family development, and conducted over 6,000 courses to government agencies, private companies, non-governmental organisations as well as students.
