sarawakbahai.org

16 July 2008 One Comment

It is not every day that a Baha’i is recognised for his efforts in the core activities at an Award Night of such stellar proportions that it becomes the talk of a country and receives international media attention. Not many people excel academically, are totally committed to their career and at the same time actively serve the community. At 28, Lim Soon Kam is proof that a person can do all these if they want to.

Lim was awarded the Outstanding Young Malaysian Awards 2006 (TOYM) for Moral or Religious Leadership by Junior Chambers International (JCI) Malaysia. The award is in recognition of his 13 years of outstanding contribution towards the development of academic, moral and spiritual education of children and youths from the Jenjarom community.

Soon Kam was nominated for the Award by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Malaysia. Endorsed by the Ministry of Youth & Sports of Malaysia, The Outstanding Young Persons of The World Programme (Jaycees, US) and the Malaysia Book of Records, this internationally acclaimed Award is to accord recognition to Soon Kam’s outstanding personal achievements and significant contributions to the welfare of the community through the implementation of the four core activities in Jenjarom Chinese New Village, situated 2 hours away from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“If the Bahá’ís can shape Soon Kam into what he is today, I sincerely hope that the Bahá’ís will continue to shape the rest of the young following his example.”At a dinner attended by some 900 individuals held to celebrate his achievement, Dato’ Eei Kim Hock, State Selangor State Assembyman, addressed the crowd with this remark:

“If the Bahá’ís can shape Soon Kam into what he is today, I sincerely hope that the Bahá’ís will continue to shape the rest of the young following his example.”

“I am deeply touched by the way Soon Kam portrayed himself in his nomination form. While others tend to glorify their own personal achievements; Soon Kam, on the other hand, described himself so humbly, rather, he focused himself on telling the transformation stories of children and junior youth of his village. This is something rare in our current society. All of us should learn from him; achieved so highly and yet so humble.”

For the efforts of a Baha’i to be recognised on such a scale are quite a feat, especially when considering that Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country. It signalises a significant step in the emergence from obscurity of the Baha’i Faith in that community.

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Soon Kam’s Thank you Speech
“I am thankful that materially we have progressed but sad that spiritually we are lagging behind. Material civilization is like the lamp and virtues and spiritual qualities is the light within the lamp. When both become united, the outcome will be perfect. If we have all the material advances but do not have people of high virtues and attributes, it’s like having a beautiful lamp but without light; humanity will not prosper and attain peace.”

“All of us, I believe, are anxiously concerned about the exigencies and requirements of the people and communities, irrespective of race, colour and religion. It is my conviction that everyone can play a part in building a peaceful and prosperous global society, no matter how meager their means or limited their capacities.”

“The highest righteousness is to assist the disadvantaged out of ignorance, abasement and poverty with pure motives; to arise and energetically devote ourselves to the service of the masses, forgetting our own worldly advantage and serving the general good. The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.”

“It is the goodly deeds of my parents, teachers, friends and the members of the Bahá’í community of Malaysia who have sacrificially nurtured me. In their selfless service and dedication following the Teachings of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh – the Prophet Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, they have provided the examples for me to follow. The Bahá’í Teaching has been my source of guidance and inspiration.”