30 outstanding youths nominated for special awards in star metro

30 outstanding youths nominated for special awards

By TAN KARR WEI
karrwei@thestar.com.my
Photos by LIM CHENG KIAT

AFTER a near-fatal accident that left him paralysed from his upper chest downwards, Leonard Chua’s focus in life is now to preach the importance of love and passion.
“It was six years ago that I crashed my car into a tree along the Federal Highway. My car actually broke into two and I was hospitalised for more than five months,” said the 30-year-old Chua.
He was one of the 30 nominees of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malaysia Ten Outstanding Young Malaysian Awards 2011 announced recently at the Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya.

A noble mission: Pook wants to encourage young musicians in Malaysia.

“I could not accept not being able to move and even contemplated suicide. It was the love and support of my family that kept me going.
“Because of what happened to me, my whole family was affected. I was touched by my mother’s sacrifices and I told myself that I must keep going so I can give her a good life.
“Initially, I couldn’t even speak. I had to relearn to speak and to regain my hand functions. I had to start from drawing lines and circles before I went on to my ABCs,” he said.
Chua has since started the Beyond Rehabilitation Wellness Centre in Malacca to help people with disabilities going through rehabilitation and to help them enhance their quality of life.
Besides that, he also gives motivational speeches at corporate events and schools.
His mother Jessica Lim, who was also present at the event, said that she had been helping him set up the organisation.
“When the incident happened, we were all at a loss and was not sure what to do so we want to guide not only the disabled but also their families on the things that they need to do handle the situation,” said Lim.

Family support: Chua with his mother Jessica Lim and god-brother Mok Chek Fook.

Chua was nominated under the Personal Improvement and Accomplishment category while the other categories include Moral and/or Environmental Leadership; Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs; Contribution to Children, World Peace or Human Rights; and Humanitarian and Voluntary Service.
Award organising chairman Leong Kong Meng said that they have received more than 100 applications for the award, which has been running in Malaysia for the past 26 years.
He said that the candidates had to be between 18 and 40 years old and nominated by a person who did not have to be a JCI member.
The finalists would then be judged based on five criterias: their challenges and scope of activity; exceptional achievements and contribution; value of contribution to the community and nation; how it has lived up to the JCI creed “That service in humanity is the best work of life”; and how their leadership may inspire others.
The top ten would be announced in September and would then have a chance to represent Malaysia in the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World with other nominees from around 100 other countries.
Orchestra conductor Eugene Pook. 39, was nominated under the Cultural Achivement category.
Pook has been conducting overseas in countries like the United States, Canada and Hong Kong for 18 years before returning to Malaysia two years ago.
“Malaysia is just a beautiful country and after so many years abroad, I felt that it was time to come home,” he said.
He started two orchestras in Ipoh, the Perak Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra, for young people.
Pook, who plays the piano and clarinet, still performs and conducts and he is also a conducting tutor at the Universiti Malaya.
“My friends encouraged me to take up this nomination and since I’m already very close to the age limit, I thought why not. If I make it to the final ten, it would be a bonus but if not, it will not stop me from helping young musicians and to encourage people to take up instruments,” he said.