Best of Malaysianskini 2023

We have been featuring an interesting mix of Malaysians this year in our Malaysianskini column, which first began running in 2015.

While all of them deserve mention for the incredible work they do to help enrich the lives of others, we decided to pick 10 whom we felt stood out in their special way for their bravery, resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity.

So here are our picks for the Top 10 Malaysianskini for 2023.

10. Why Nahvin Muthusamy spoke out at his award ceremony

Royal Education Award winner Nahvin Muthusamy could have just accepted his award for academic excellence and quietly left the convocation stage.

However, the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) graduate felt he should use the opportunity to draw attention to the lack of meritocracy in Malaysia’s education system, particularly honouring his late friend.

He called for an open and honest approach to education that focussed on merit, not quotas.

9. Activist Hartini dedicates her life to 'unseen' children

In 2010, amidst the bustling chaos of Kuala Lumpur’s cityscape, Hartini Zainudin found herself spending hours in a hired taxi, deeply moved by the heart-wrenching scenes that unfolded along an alleyway.

A teenager’s hand deftly exchanged a small packet of clear crystallites for money.

The refugee boy then pushed past his latest customer and disappeared into the labyrinthine streets, away from Hartini’s watchful gaze.

However, it wasn’t long before the 13-year-old was in her sights again, and under her protection.

8. After victory over dam and loggers, Orang Asli activist takes on Putrajaya

The Orang Asli villagers of Kampung Pos Lanai in Kuala Lipis headed to the Temerloh High Court as their civil action against Putrajaya and the Pahang government went to trial.

The villagers’ action is against what they deem to be the federal and state governments’ encroachment on their land.

“Today we have emboldened ourselves to testify in court,” said Pos Lanai Orang Asli Land and Territories Action Committee chairperson Jeffry Hassan outside of the court.

His story is about a group of people who weren't going to take injustice lying down.

7. Just like YBeeee, Jo Kukathas moves with the times

In 1989, Jo Kukathas, Andrew Leci, Zahim Albakri, and the late Jit Murad founded Instant Cafe Theatre (ICT), a progressive theatre group that essentially revolutionised the live entertainment scene in Malaysia.

At a time when freedom of expression was almost a taboo subject, ICT made us laugh through political satire.

Decades later, Jo, now 60, is one of the icons of the local theatre scene.

Asked what keeps her going in a scene that has so many ups and downs, Jo told Malaysiakini: “It’s an interesting question. I mean, it’s interesting that you would ask this question about the arts, right? But you wouldn’t ask this question to a doctor.”

6. How a trailblazing 'rope access professional' scales new heights

In her childhood days, an overcast sky held a promise for Normalia Sidek - that during the ensuing downpour, playing catch with her neighbours would become slippery and thrilling, allowing her to invoke an entirely different set of skills.

These days, the sombre shadow cast by heavy clouds serves as nature’s subtle alarm bell, telling her to reel in her ropes and retreat from the exterior wall of the high rise she is suspended from.

She surprised Malaysians when she was captured in drone footage working at the mast of one of the Petronas Twin Towers last October.

“My dream was to work at the pinnacle of the Twin Towers,” she said with a broad smile and a gleam in her eye.

The sporty hijab-wearing lass has sparked fresh female interest in the traditionally male-dominated field of rope access technicians and non-destructive testing (NDT) technicians.

5. Breast cancer survivor pays it forward by helping others

Kim Lim, a breast cancer survivor and current president of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA), is determined not to give up despite facing substantial challenges in recent times.

During the pandemic years, Lim lost her job as a general manager in a retail company and was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 42-year-old first came to know of BCWA from her doctor, who told her that someone from the association would be visiting her after her operation.

After the operation to remove the cancerous tumour, she met Mei Quin, a breast cancer survivor and BCWA volunteer.

4. Dondang Sayang legend Mohd Baharim still burns with passion

Veteran exponent of traditional Malay art form Dondang Sayang, Mohd Baharim Mohd Sharip, has just been bestowed the honour of a BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 78-year-old received the recognition during the awards ceremony held on May 14 at Stage 1 of the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC).

It was hard to pin down Baharim for an interview because he is still very much in demand, performing regularly at public events, weddings and dinners.

He points out that Dondang Sayang’s survival depends on public acceptance of this unique art form.

“I feel we need to engage with schoolchildren and adults so that they become more familiar with this type of music.”

3. Tower runner won’t stop racing to the top

Soh Wai Ching is the best in the world at what he does, but the athlete seems to spend as much time drumming up support for his chosen sport of tower running as he does racing up the stairs.

Mind you, he’s the top-ranked chap in the world, who just picked up his third consecutive title at The Empire State Building Run-Up (ESBRU) in New York in October.

Interestingly, tower running is only done in the upwards direction and most competitions use a timing method to determine the order in which runners finish a competition.

2. Punk rockers bringing light to interiors of Sabah

The non-conformist ethos of punk rockers may not be attractive to a consumerist society. However, a Sabah collective of punk musicians is striking a chord with Malaysians as they use art to generate electricity.

Through the sale of woodcut prints that depict the simplicities of village life, Pangrok Sulap raised RM75,000 to generate renewable electricity for 27 households.

Their first project in March helped villagers in Kampung Penulangon, which is nestled in the Trusmadi forest reserve in Ranau, Sabah.

Living up to punk’s do-it-yourself culture, 21 volunteers from the collective were joined by villagers and NGO Lightup Borneo - which brought the know-how on channelling hydroelectricity to homes.

1. The retired journo who opened her home to a stranger’s children

Seven years ago, retired editor Sheila Rahman Natarajan noticed a group of young children who were stragglers in her neighbourhood playground. Then aged between four and 11, the five siblings seemed not to be studying or under adult supervision.

While some might have just lamented the unfortunate situation, Sheila and her neighbours didn’t sit still. They learned that the five children had a Malaysian father but that their Indonesian mother had left the family.

Furthermore, they lacked the proper documentation to ensure access to studies, healthcare and other basic needs.

Sheila and her neighbours offered to look after the children while their father was at work.

Over time, it became a community effort as they eventually got involved in their education and even engaged in the legal process of trying to help them sort out their citizenship.

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