United Sikhs humanitarian aid director Rishiwant Singh Randhawa has always faced many obstacles in his quest to help others in their time of need.
His noble intention to feed Syrian refugees along the Macedonian-Serbian border during a harsh winter earlier this year was misunderstood by some people close to him.
They accused him of feeding “terrorists”, who they claimed would later create havoc in Europe, but Rishiwant did not let their accusations get to him.
“It is impossible to make everybody happy. At that time, all I saw were just women and children who were hungry.
“At the end of the day, the human race is one,” he said, adding that his faith was the only thing that kept him soldiering on.
In April last year, Rishiwant had organised the Good Will Walk from Kampung Wang Kerian in Perlis to the Gurdwara Sahib Malacca, to raise funds for the Kelantan flood victims, Nepal earthquake disaster fund and the poor in Malaysia.
In spite of funding problems and negative comments from some people around him, Rishiwant was adamant to keep serving others for as long as he could.
“You can’t let anything hold you back when you are helping others,” he said.
He was one of 10 award recipients of the Star Golden Hearts Award 2016, acknowledged by the Star Media Group for their role in building bridges between different communities as well as promoting racial harmony and unity.
The award, handed out by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, was in recognition of noble deeds and efforts to help others – regardless of race and background.
Each award winner received a trophy and RM3,000 cash during the ceremony.
Other recipients were Marie Christie Robert, Kong Lan Lee, Shalini Yeap May Hwa and Afred Samuel Mariyas, Jerryson Abraham Gnanaraj Doss and Edna Sung Burongoh, Khairuddin Abd Aziz, Dr Rusaslina Idrus, Mohd Yusuf Rohani, Saari Mohd Nor and Low Kock Seong, and Tan Chin Leong.
Ecoworld Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who led the panel of judges for the award, said they received over 100 nominations for the awards.
Also present at the ceremony were Star Media Group Chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, Star Media Group CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and Gamuda Engineering managing director Datuk Ubull Din Om.