Humble champion

SINGAPORE - There was thunderous applause from the audience when tabla!'s editor Patrick Jonas announced the name of the third tabla! Community Champion.

After all, businessman Mohamed Abdul Jaleel is well known in the Indian community for his philanthropy and humility. The founder and chief executive officer of construction logistics company, Mini Environment Service Group, received a pewter vase from guest of honour Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S. Iswaran.

Mr Jaleel's acceptance speech was brief. He thanked tabla! for choosing him for the award. He was treated like a celebrity throughout the evening with reporters and photographers on his trail - something that he wasn't used to. "I didn't expect this award. I feel very humbled and honoured," Mr Jaleel told tabla!.

The award, like the previous two years, comes with a generous donation of $10,000 from the State Bank of India (SBI), which went to the charity of the winner's choice -the Singapore Indian Development Association.

Mr Iswaran, in his address, said that the annual award helps to "recognise a local Indian who has been doing exemplary work for the less fortunate".

"It is also critical for us to work towards a more inclusive and caring society in Singapore. Deepavali also reminds us to care for the less fortunate amongst us and to inculcate greater social responsibility," he added.

SBI's executive vice-president M.N. Aravind Kumar, who presented the $10,000 cheque to Mr Jaleel, said that he was pleased that SBI has supported the award for the third time. "At SBI we believe that a service to humanity is service to God. And as part of our corporate social responsibility we're on board with tabla! for this award," he said.

Mr Kumar also added that when he heard the name of the winner, Mr Jaleel, he did a search and read up more extensively about him.

"Mr Jaleel is definitely the right person for the award this year," added Mr Kumar.

The award ceremony, held on Sept 18 at the Singapore Expo Hall 5B, was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Vijay Thakur Singh, chairman of Tamil Murasu S. Chandra Das and editor-in-chief of the English and Malay Newspapers Division and Tamil Murasu director Patrick Daniel among many other distinguished guests. tabla!'s first and second Community Champions, Dr Jimmy S. Daruwalla and Dr Kumaran Rasappan, were also present.

Mr Chandra Das in his welcome speech reminded the audience that Mr Iswaran was present when tabla! was launched five years ago and that he was happy to see him again as the guest of honour for the event.

Mr Iswaran also inaugurated the Singapore International Deepavali Shopping Festival (SIDS Fest) that is being held at the same venue.

Noting that several exhibitors had come from India, he said: "This builds upon the strong and growing relationship we have with India - one that is based, not just on history and culture, but also economics."

Later, Mr Iswaran, along with the Indian High Commissioner, went around the exhibition area meeting vendors and checking out their wares.

The five-day shopping festival, from Sept 18 to 22, has over 200 stalls selling items ranging from Indian ethnic wear to shoes and handicrafts. Many of the stall exhibitors tabla! spoke to said they are expecting bigger crowds over the weekend.

Said Rajni Narula, an exhibitor selling Indian ethnic wear from Delhi: "There are a lot of customers coming to the stalls and checking out what we have today. And over the weekend, I'm more certain that there will be more people."

She expects a larger crowd because of the anticipated arrival of Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan, who will grace the festival during the weekend to promote his latest movie, Kriish 3.

SIDS Fest is organised by tabla!, Tamil Murasu and events company de ideaz.

jamunas@sph.com.sg

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