KOTA KINABALU – Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin is among 'The Outstanding Young Persons of Sabah' (TOYPS) picked by JCI Kota Kinabalu at a gala dinner here last weekend.

Rosnah, second term MP for Papar, is founding chief of Umno’s Puteri movement in the state (2001-2004), before moving on to become deputy chief of the movement at the national level (2004-2008).

A lawyer by profession before her foray into politics, Rosnah was earlier this year triumphant in her bid as chief of Umno Puteri Malaysia and subsequently appointed deputy health minister.

Winning the award for the political, legal and government affairs category, she attributed support of her family members and friends for her success, adding that “nothing had been easy or glamorous”.

Recognising young Malaysians

Vivien Lee, current president of JCI Kota Kinabalu, explained in her welcome speech that TOYPS was organized bi-annually to recognise young Malaysians in Sabah who have dedicated themselves to the progress or welfare of the community at large.

“There are so many young Sabahans and Malaysian individuals who have had great achievements in their respective field of professions, practices and endeavours. (Right: The Outstanding Young Persons of Sabah award trophy)

“Some are known but some aren’t, making them unsung heroes in their field,” she added.

Tan Kar Leong, 32, who lifted the award for the business, economic or entrepreneurial accomplishment category, started selling bicycles and related accessories in Brunei.

Later, he and his siblings expanded their retailing business and the group grew into a total of 114 household products outlets, six supermarkets in Sabah, Sarawak and Johor, with annual revenue exceeding RM80 million, employing over 2,000 workers.

Ben Leong, who turned pro in golf in 2006, won the hearts of the judges for the personal improvement and accomplishment category. His proud father, N C Leong received the award on his behalf.

He is now ranked No. 1 in Malaysia, 18th in Asia and 285th in the world. Ben’s achievement in golf has the distinction of being the first Malaysian to reach such standing.

Calvin Tang Kiat Chung, a wizard in mobile phone security technology, clinched the scientific and technological development category of the TOYPS award.

His interest in and intense focus on this field caught the attention of McAfee, a US-based anti-virus company that has now offer this young Sabahan a permanent part-time job as professional security researcher.

The TOYPS event has been organized in collaboration with JCI Malaysia’s Ten Top Young Malaysians (TOYM) since 2007.

Winners in other categories

Touching on this collaboration, JCI Malaysia’s national president Jamie Tiew (left) pledged that JCI Malaysia would continue to foster national unity and play our role in compliance with the prime minister’s call for 1Malaysia.

“This program provides development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change,” said Tiew who attended the award ceremony on Saturday.

TOYPS 2009 winners of other categories (in brackets) are: Gary Chaw Pak Haw (Cultural & Artistic Achievement), Dr. Roland Chia Ming Shen (Humanitarian & Voluntary Services), Kevin Loo Seng Pung (Moral & Religious Leadership), and Steven Liau Chee Kok (Contribution to Children, World Peace, Nature or Human Rights).

Two young female Sabahans received a certificate of merit. They are: Starcie Angie Anam (Stacy), winner of Akademic Fantasia 6; and Mak Ching Hsia, who represented Sabah twice at the Sukma games and who scored straight ‘A’s in every public school examinations (UPSR, PMR & SPM).

Guest of honour for the night was Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, who headed the panel of judges. He was represented by his assistant minister Datuk Jahid Jahim at the awards presentation.

Vivien Lee told Malaysian Mirror today that two of the 2007 winners from Sabah, Datuk Raymond Chan (Business, Economic or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment) and Adrian Lasimbang (Humanitarian and Voluntary Services), would be among the ten young persons representing our country at the Ten Outstanding Persons of the World contest at Tunisia in November.