Life-long community activist Mohammad Alami Musa conferred Berita Harian Achiever of the Year

Amalina Ridzuan and Ahmad Abdurrahman Hanifah Marican - who created history by being the first students from madrasahs who were accepted into NUS School of Medicine - awarded the Berita Harian Inspiring Young Achiever Award.

SINGAPORE - Mr Mohammad Alami Musa has the Malay/Muslim community close to his heart. His days as a community activist began in school and when in university, he mobilised Malay students from other tertiary institutions to research and write a paper on the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore and chart a strategic plan to aid the community's progress.

Mr Mohammad Alami then went on to be a pioneering founder and chairman of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP). Under his leadership, the association initiated several programmes from early childhood education to workers' training and strengthening families.

In 2003, he was appointed President of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, Muis or the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. While at the helm of Muis, Mr Mohammad Alami was instrumental in formulating the Singapore Muslim Identity which has become the guiding principle of religious life for Muslim Singaporeans living in a modern, secular country. He also contributed immensely to the development of local asatizah and left a lasting legacy with his inter-faith work.

For his dedication to the community, leadership in navigating the challenging religious landscape and commitment to fostering inter-faith harmony, Mr Mohammad Alami was conferred the prestigious Berita Harian Achiever of the Year Award 2015 (Anugerah Jauhari Berita Harian 2015).

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, was the Guest-of-Honour at a gala dinner tonight at the Raffles City Convention Centre and presented the award to Mr Mohammad Alami.

Commenting on the award, Mr Alami said: "I am but one of the many helping hands in the present cohort of activists who are contributing to community building efforts. I see this award as an award in the spirit of collective effort."

Mr Mohd Saat Abdul Rahman, Editor of Berita Harian, said: "This year's award is indeed special as the success that has been achieved by Mr Mohammad Alami is also a reflection of how the Muslim community in Singapore has integrated and contributed in a modern, secular country."

The annual award, now into its 17th year, is organised by Singapore Press Holdings' Malay daily, Berita Harian. It honours Malay/Muslim individuals for their achievements in their chosen field, be it education, business, arts and culture, sports, the professions or social work. The award is also open to organisations. The qualities that the judging panel looks for include perseverance, determination, integrity and the ability to overcome odds. Above all, the winner must be a role model for the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.

In conjunction with SG50, Berita Harian also presented three Berita Harian Pioneer Generation Achiever Awards (Anugerah Jauhari Perintis). The award recipients are Dr Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, Syed Isa Semait and Sarkasi Said.

"This year's awards hold special significance, as we are also honouring three Malay pioneers in the field of Language, Arts and Religion - three fields that are important in the development of the Malay community in Singapore. We feel it is an excellent time to pay tribute to our pioneers as the nation celebrates 50 years of independence," said Mr Saat Abdul Rahman.

Berita Harian also presented the Berita Harian Inspiring Young Achiever Award 2015 (Anugerah Jauhari Harapan 2015) to Ms Amalina Ridzuan and Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman Hanifah Marican. The award recognises young inspiring Malay/Muslim Singaporeans aged 30 and below.

Mr Saat Abdul Rahman said: "This award is Berita Harian's small gesture in motivating young Malay/Muslims who have shown the potential to achieve greater heights. We hope this award will spur the individual to continue to work hard and pursue his or her dream, and while doing so, inspire other young Malay/Muslims to achieve their goals."

This year's winners were picked by a panel of four judges from the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore, headed by Mr Saat Abdul Rahman.

The other three judges were:
- Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed (Singapore's Ambassador to Kuwait and Special Envoy to the Middle East)
- Mr Bahren Shaari (Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Singapore; and Director of SPH)
- Mr Suhaimi Rafdi (Jauhari winner 2012)
- Dr Abdul Razakjr Omar (Jauhari winner 2013)

Previous winners of the Berita Harian Achiever of the Year Award were:
1999 - Dr Mansoor Abdul Jalil, lecturer with the Department of Electrical Engineering at National University of Singapore (NUS)
2000 - Professor Aziz Nather, director at the Tissue Bank and consultant with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NUS
2001 - Madam Halimah Yacob, Assistant Secretary General of NTUC
2002 - Mr Iskandar Jalil, master potter
2003 - Mr Iskandar Mirza Ismail, veteran composer
2004 - Haji Abu Bakar Maidin, a veteran of social service
2005 - Mr Zulkifli Baharudin, Chairman of Mercy Relief
2006 - Mr Mardan Mamat, professional golfer
2007 - Mr Ashley Isham, fashion designer
2008 - Datuk Mohd Zain Abdullah, accomplished businessman in the shipping industry
2009 - Madam Som Binte Mohamed Said, cultural ambassador
2010 - Mr Shafie Shamsudin, Chief Executive Officer of Carrefour Indonesia
2011 - Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican, Chairman and Managing Director of SCP
2012 - Mr Suhaimi Rafdi, Chief Executive Officer, Cathay Organisation Holdings
2013 - Dr Abdul Razakjr Omar, Cardiologist
2014 - Religious Rehabilitation Group (the first time the Berita Harian Achiever Award was awarded to an organisation)