PHNOM PENH, 13 November 2022 – ASEAN officially announced Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri bin Haji Damit as the ASEAN Prize 2022 recipient. Iqbal Damit is a youth advocate and community leader from Brunei Darussalam. He has actively promoted inclusive community-based development and intensified regional cooperation towards a resilient ASEAN Community. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen made the announcement during the closing of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh earlier today.
Since 2010, Iqbal Damit has been a visible figure in the implementation of humanitarian relief initiatives among affected populations in the region. He has specifically served displaced persons through the mobilisation of primary needs such as nutritional sustenance, water, sanitation system, shelter, and education facilities among others. His perseverance in implementing ground operations in humanitarian relief has also inspired greater participation of the youth in such efforts.
As founder of the Brunei Darussalam based non-profit organisation Hand4Hand, Iqbal Damit advocates for volunteerism among the youth. Under his leadership, Hand4Hand has worked with over 2,000 volunteers to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance and emergency responses in the region and beyond to serve the vulnerable and needy. Through Hand4Hand, Iqbal Damit envisions to assemble one million ASEAN youth in a collaborative ASEAN awareness programme.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi in his congratulatory remarks commended Iqbal Damit for his dedication in carrying out humanitarian relief projects and helping those in need. SG underscored the importance of such actions in advancing a cohesive and resilient ASEAN Community.
“Iqbal Damit’s perseverance in supporting humanitarian causes, his leadership in addressing the impact of crises, and his efforts in promoting human dignity of the affected populations is a perfect illustration of upstanding service in strengthening humanitarian protection in the region.” He added, “ASEAN appreciates his commitment in initiating voluntary collective actions and generating greater awareness among the youth. This ASEAN Prize is awarded as a tribute for his work, and further, recognition of an exemplary young leader of ASEAN.”
On this achievement, Iqbal Damit expressed, “No word could describe enough of how happy I am being selected as the recipient of ASEAN Prize 2022. First and foremost, I would like to thank Allah, the God Almighty for this prestigious award. Special gratitude also goes to everyone who believed in my work and have supported me in every way possible. I would also like to dedicate this award to all the volunteers and youth leaders in this region, especially in Brunei Darussalam, who have work tremendously hard in driving and believing on their different causes. I hope everyone will be rewarded with greater returns and be given the strength to continuously keep on doing those amazing work.”
Lim Hock Chuan, Head of Programmes at Temasek Foundation which is the chief sponsor of the ASEAN Prize, congratulated Iqbal Damit on being awarded the ASEAN Prize 2022, “Temasek Foundation applauds the award of ASEAN Prize 2022 to Mr. Iqbal Damit for his exemplary efforts in youth advocacy and community-based humanitarian relief initiatives. Over the years, he has motivated countless of his peers and the society at large to create positive social change together. The dynamism and youth of Iqbal coupled with his compassion for those in needs will continue to inspire and contribute to the building of a more cohesive and resilient ASEAN.”
Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Founder & Trustee of Yayasan Hasanah, the other main ASEAN Prize sponsor, conveyed, “Our congratulations to Iqbal Damit, for his commitment and dedication towards improving the lives of vulnerable communities in ASEAN in critical areas of need especially as our region and other parts of Asia have been susceptible to climate change and crises in recent years. In Hasanah, we have seen how youth play a critical role in in understanding and implementing initiatives that address climate change adaptation, hence Iqbal has set a great example of how youth volunteers can be a positive conduit in addressing the humanitarian needs of not only the people of Brunei, but also the needs of their fellow neighbouring ASEAN citizens. Hasanah looks to continuing to support the ASEAN Prize 2022, as this provides an important opportunity for us to recognise outstanding ASEAN humanitarians like Iqbal Damit, who demonstrate real examples of how we continue to strengthen regional cooperation towards a resilient ASEAN”.
Administered by the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Prize is a premier regional award bestowed annually to honour ASEAN-based individuals or organisations that have demonstrated outstanding work and significant contribution to the region’s community building efforts. The recipient will receive a trophy and monetary award of US$20,000 sponsored by Temasek Foundation of Singapore and Yayasan Hasanah of Malaysia.
The ASEAN Prize was inaugurated in 2018. Back then, Erlinda Uy Koe, a Filipino autism advocate, received the inaugural ASEAN Prize for her contributions to foster an inclusive ASEAN Community. The following year, Malaysian humanitarian leader Dr. Jemilah Mahmood was selected as the ASEAN Prize recipient in recognition of her dedication in providing emergency needs and humanitarian response to the marginalised and affected population in the region.
The ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, a Singapore-based regional research centre, was awarded the ASEAN Prize 2020 following their long-standing contributions in promoting ASEAN awareness through academic outreach and engagement with stakeholders. Last year, the Mekong Institute, a research institute and community development centre based in Khon Kaen, was granted the ASEAN Prize 2021 in recognition of its outstanding efforts to strengthening regional integration and cooperation towards sustainable development.
The ASEAN Prize 2022 awarding ceremony will be in 2023 during Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN.
# # #
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 and constitutes ten Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. On 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Community was formally established. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Temasek Foundation
Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. Temasek Foundation’s programmes, made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet. For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg.
Yayasan Hasanah
Yayasan Hasanah (“Hasanah”) is the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia. Hasanah was set up as an independent entity on 1 July 2015, building on nine years of Corporate Responsibility (CR) efforts previously driven by Khazanah. As a grant-giving organisation, Hasanah goes beyond ringgit and cents to facilitate an ecosystem of transformation, working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, infusing a spirit of advocacy and building capacity in five key focus areas: Education; Community Development; Environment; Arts and Public Spaces; and Knowledge. Collectively and collaboratively, Hasanah hopes to shift the needle of social and community reform for Malaysians, towards a better Malaysia. For further information, please visit www.yayasanhasanah.org.
