UUM DOCTORAL STUDENT RECEIVES MAULIDUR RASUL SPECIAL AWARD

UUM ONLINE: Mr. Meor Muhammad Afif Aiman Abu Bakar's active participation in leadership and volunteerism activities paid off when he was selected as the recipient of the Maulidur Rasul Special Award in conjunction with the Kedah State Maulidur Rasul SAW Celebration, which was broadcast via Facebook Live Kedah State Government Darul Aman, last Tuesday.

Mr. Meor Muhammad Afif Aiman stated that his limitations did little to prevent him from taking active participation in community and leadership activities, which began when he became a member of the UUM Student Representative Council (SRC) in 2011, along with the influence of his father, who was a lecturer at IPDA and was also involved in community activities.

He expressed gratitude to Allah for being chosen to receive the award by the Kedah State Government through the State Islamic Religious Affairs Department, which is viewed as recognition and a great trust that must be maintained in order to continue the agenda he established to develop more young leaders, particularly those with disabilities.

According to him, the award he received was also particularly meaningful to him in comparison to the others he had received because it was consented by His Royal Highness Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, the Sultan of Kedah, and it was, of course, the most gratifying not only to himself, but to his entire family, particularly his parents.

"Despite fatigue and financial constraints, the amount of time and effort I devote to assisting the community and young people is well worth the award.

"I also consider this award a blessing in light of the birth of my first child since getting married last year, and I would like to thank my parents and wife, the university administration, as well as faculty members, particularly my PhD supervisor, who has been extremely patient with me and provided me with opportunities to continue my mission not only to complete my PhD, but also to assist the disabled at UUM," said he who is a 'Short Limb Gait' disabled person who underwent a correctional surgery last April.

Mr. Meor Muhammad Afif Aiman became actively involved in the struggle and personality development, particularly for the disabled community, after earning the Nadi Negara Award in 2017. He is now the Permanent Chairman of the National OKU Youth Council (MBOKU) and the President of MBOKU Kedah.

In fact, he is the founder of the Special Students Association (Permai) in the Department of Student Affairs, since there was no student association for the disabled in UUM at the time. He then established the Permai National non-governmental organisation (NGO), which involves university students and alumni who are disabled from across the country.

Making the Prophet Muhammad SAW an idol in leadership, he, who is also an Associate Fellow at the Institute of Excellence for Islamicjerusalem Studies (IEIJS), stated that a great leader is one who can produce many more leaders.

"Praise be to Allah, numerous leaders have been developed from among the many adolescents and school leavers in the local community and society as a result of giving them the opportunities and guidance through programmes and social bonding."

"I hope to continue fighting for the cause and maintaining trust in the future to assist those in need, in addition to giving motivational talks at schools, universities, government, and private agencies," said he who has been a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) at the School of Government Studies (SOG) since 2016.

Mr. Meor Muhammad Afif Aiman's success is also a source of pride for the denizens of UUM, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah, extended his heartiest congratulations and expressed hope that Mr. Meor Muhammad Afif Aiman would continue his mission of assisting young people and the needy in their future development.

He also expressed hope that the proud achievement will be an inspiration to all UUM denizens to continue to be the best not only for themselves, but also the community and the country.