Maybank

How aware are Malaysian youths on their rights and responsibilities as Malaysian citizens?

This is what Maybank Foundation and Perdana Leadership Foundation intend to find out through their jointly-organised Essay Competition 2012 “SHAPING THE NATION: OUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS MALAYSIAN CITIZENS”.

The competition was launched by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Honorary President of Perdana Leadership Foundation, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, today to a packed auditorium at Perdana Leadership Foundation. Tun, of course, is himself a prolific writer and avid reader, having penned over 20 books, the latest being his bestselling memoir, A Doctor in the House.

The Perdana Leadership Foundation Essay Competition which has been organised biennially since 2006, is in its fourth iteration. This is the first time Perdana Leadership Foundation is working together with Maybank Foundation on the competition. MPH Bookstores and the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia are official supporters.

“We are proud to have Maybank Foundation as a partner for this contest,” said Tan Sri Nik Mohamed Nik Yaacob, Executive Director of Perdana Leadership Foundation. “Maybank shares our objective, that of challenging young Malaysians to think critically and objectively on their role as citizens, and of rewarding young Malaysians who can write well on the issues presented. We believe that this essay competition will inspire deeper thought and analysis on the future of the country, by the very people who will inherit this nation.”

Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, the CEO of Maybank and the Chairman of Maybank Foundation, said that good leadership is essential to sustainability. “We feel that this competition will promote the skills necessary to good leadership: the ability to think and the ability to communicate. The competition invites young Malaysians to feel a deeper sense of responsibility and commitment to Malaysia, and to share with us their hopes and ideas for the successful sustainability of our nation.”

Young Malaysians between the ages of 13 to 25 are invited to write essays and blogposts on their views of responsible citizenship to win cash prizes, iPads, e-Book Readers and other goodies. The Grand Prize winner stands to walk away with RM8,000 in cash, an iPad2, an E-Book Reader and generous book vouchers, no small change for a demonstration of writing agility. Entries can be in English and Bahasa Malaysia. The Grand Prize winner’s institution or school will also be rewarded with a computer workstation as will the institution that sends in the most number of entries.

All entries will undergo a rigorous shortlisting and selection process, with the shortlisted entries evaluated by a panel of judges headed by Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Khoo Kay Kim.

The competition runs from now until 31st October 2012.