By Farah Radzuan
GOMBAK, 23 November 2019: The National Cancer Council Malaysia (MAKNA) was conferred the 2019 Ibnu Khaldun Merit Award at the 35th International Islamic University Malaysia convocation ceremony held at IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC) today for its role in helping the community to fight against cancer.
The award was presented by Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, who is also the IIUM Constitutional Head.
MAKNA has helped many cancer patients to fight and survive from the disease since 1994. It has also launched Bursary Assistance Programme which provides financial aid and medical support in government hospitals for lower income cancer patients.
Receiving the award from the Raja Permaisuri Agong on behalf of the organisation, the general manager of MAKNA, Farahida Mohd Farid said, “We hope to continue to create the desired impact to the society throughout our lifetime and beyond as our aim is to ensure those seeking for help will be helped.”
“Don’t expect from others what you do not expect from yourself, lead a purposeful life, then the things that you do will become a form of ibadah,” she said.
She added, “Give meaning to your own lives, you will find happiness.”
MAKNA also has digital mobile mammogram screening programme to deliver mobile breast cancer screening to rural and poor urban community as the organisation believes that early detection would be able to save more lives.
Besides, MAKNA also provides “halfway house” for short term accommodation for patients during their duration of hospital treatment.
Ibnu Khaldun Merit Award was introduced by IIUM to highlight the value of organisation within the community and to promote its achievement as a positive role model in delivering community service.
The convocation ceremony today was officiated by Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj.
In the ceremony, 4,317 graduands received bachelor’s degree, while 1,128 received masters and PhDs out of a total 5,445 graduands. ***