BALIK PULAU: Universiti Sains Malaysia Deputy Vice Chancellor (Innovation and Research), Professor Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed was named by the state as this year’s Tokoh Maulidur Rasul.
Abdul Rahman, 54, who expressed gratitude, said the award would motivate him to continue his community research works for the benefit of the lower income group (B40).
“This is my way of returning back to the community because I feel privileged for having been given the opportunity to learn and carry out research to help the target group change their fate,” he said when met by newsmen today.
Abdul Rahman is a researcher and scientist who received 80 international grants worth RM18 million to produce high-impact publications, including the Scopus database and research papers in many of the world's renowned academic journals.
He also has professional academic networks with many countries in the world such as Japan and France.
The award was presented to him by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, who was present to open the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebration here.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman and State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor and Penang Islamic Religious Council president Datuk Abdul Kassim Abul Malik.
Meanwhile, Datuk Dr Mustafa Kassim also received the Qudwatur Rasul (Education) award while Khairol Fitri Kiraman bagged the Qudwatur Rasul (Community) award respectively.
Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah auxiliary police Zaidi Salleh also received the Qudwatur Rasul Khas special award and owner of the Nasmir Nasi Kandar chain of restaurants Datuk Kadhar Abdul Razak received the Qudwatur Rasul (Entrepreneur) award.
At the same event, the state Fire and Rescue Department was also announced as the best contingent for the state's Maulidur Rasul parade this year.
Some 56 contingents involving 2,700 participants from numerous government agencies, non-governmental organisations and congregations took part in the 2km parade, which started at the Maahad Al Mashoor Al Islami to Politeknik Balik Pulau here.