Borneo Komrad, Dawn, Jeyakumar win Civil Society Award

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) has named two NGOs and the PSM chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj as winners of the 9th Civil Society Awards.

The two NGOs are the disability rights advocacy group Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing Organisation (Dawn) and the Borneo-based rights group Borneo Komrad.

They were selected from a pool of 10 nominees in recognition of their efforts in advocacy work, education and championing the rights of marginalised communities.

The award ceremony took place in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 10, in conjunction with International Human Rights Day.

According to the award citation published today, Dawn was selected for the award for its work in providing advocacy, education and support for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as lobbying Malaysia to comply with the UN Convention on The Rights of Persons With Disabilities that the country had signed in 2008.

“Most instrumental is Dawn’s support for the e-hailing driver (Ong Ing Keong) who is deaf and mute and was assaulted while waiting in his vehicle.

“While that case has had its day in court, we hope this award would give Dawn an extra boost in its fight for justice for Deaf individuals,” the citation read.

Eradicating illiteracy

Borneo Komrad was recognised for multiple initiatives to help undocumented and stateless communities, such as the Sekolah Alternative programme aimed at eradicating illiteracy.

This is despite operating in environments that are often hostile to such people and Borneo Komrad’s work.

“Their members have been arrested and the villages in which these communities live have been torched to the ground. The challenges faced by Borneo Komrad are still ongoing,” it said.

As for Jeyakumar, the award was a recognition for decades of work ranging from founding the education group Kalvikkhuzu and workers rights group Alaigal, to speaking up on various issues such as healthcare, minimum wage, and more.

In 2011, he was detained under the Emergency Ordinance and placed in solitary confinement after being accused of trying to wage war against the king and revive communism.

“Dr Kumar is known for being a leader in PSM but he is much more than that.

“He is what a politician should be: A man of the people. A consistent voice for the marginalised and the poor. A humble and dedicated human being,” said the award citation for the former Sungai Siput MP.

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