Seorang ibu mungkin tidak pernah menganggap dirinya seorang pejuang. Dia hanya melakukan apa yang perlu dilakukan. Kerana bagi seorang ibu, kasih tidak pernah mempunyai waktu untuk berhenti.

Bangun apabila anak memerlukan. Menemani apabila anak takut. Mencari jawapan apabila tiada siapa mampu memberikan penjelasan. Belajar memahami sesuatu yang pada awalnya asing. Dan apabila hari terasa terlalu berat, dia tetap bangun keesokan paginya dan meneruskan perjalanan.

Begitulah semangat yang terangkum dalam tema Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026 — “Sentuhan Ibu, Sejuta Makna – A Mother’s Touch, A Lifetime of Love”.

Ia bukan sekadar ungkapan indah tentang kasih seorang ibu. Ia adalah gambaran tentang bagaimana sentuhan kecil seorang ibu boleh menjadi kekuatan besar dalam kehidupan anak — dan bagaimana pengalaman sebuah keluarga akhirnya mampu memberi makna kepada keluarga yang lain.

Bukan Sekadar Sebuah Anugerah

Tahun ini, sembilan wanita menerima Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026: Ashley Pang Yek Sze, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, Katherine Ho Tsui Mee, Joyce Lim Lay Kuan, Naneecharam Muniandy, Elahe Norman, Rajeswari Paramasevam, Thilagavathy Karmegham dan Zuraini Anuar.

Mereka hadir dengan latar kehidupan dan pengalaman yang berbeza.

Namun terdapat satu benang merah yang menghubungkan kesemua mereka — kasih kepada anak telah membawa mereka melangkaui peranan sebagai seorang ibu. Pengalaman membesarkan anak, khususnya apabila berhadapan dengan cabaran dan keperluan yang berbeza, sering mengubah cara seseorang melihat dunia. Apa yang pada awalnya hanya menjadi perjuangan peribadi akhirnya boleh menjadi kesedaran sosial.

Seorang ibu mula bertanya:
Bagaimana dengan keluarga lain?
Adakah mereka mempunyai tempat untuk mendapatkan bantuan?
Siapa yang akan mendengar suara mereka?
Bagaimana anak-anak ini boleh mendapat peluang yang sama?

Daripada persoalan-persoalan itulah lahir keberanian.
Dan daripada keberanian itulah lahir perubahan.
Apabila kasih seorang ibu menjadi suara

Menjadi ibu kepada anak yang memerlukan sokongan tambahan bukan sekadar tentang mengurus keperluan harian.

Ia juga tentang belajar.

Belajar memahami perkembangan anak. Belajar mengenali keperluan mereka. Belajar berkomunikasi dengan guru dan pakar. Belajar mencari terapi. Belajar berhadapan dengan pandangan masyarakat.

Dan dalam proses itu, seorang ibu sendiri turut berubah.
Dia menjadi lebih peka.
Lebih berani bertanya.
Lebih berani bersuara.
Lebih berani mempertahankan hak anaknya.

Sembilan penerima Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026 memperlihatkan wajah perjuangan itu dalam bentuk yang berbeza.

Ashley Pang Yek Sze, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, Katherine Ho Tsui Mee, Joyce Lim Lay Kuan, Naneecharam Muniandy, Elahe Norman, Rajeswari Paramasevam, Thilagavathy Karmegham dan Zuraini Anuar bukan diraikan kerana kehidupan mereka sempurna.

Ashley Pang Yek Sze – Kasih seorang ibu terhadap anaknya, Alexander, yang menghidap Sindrom Down menjadi inspirasi untuk membuka peluang dan membina masa depan lebih bermakna buat golongan kelainan upaya melalui Alex’s Bakery, Alexo Store dan Project Kindness.

Mereka diraikan kerana mereka memilih untuk terus melangkah, kerana ketabahan sebenar bukan bermaksud seseorang itu tidak pernah letih.Ia bermaksud, walaupun letih, dia masih memilih untuk meneruskan perjalanan.

Kasih Yang Tidak Berhenti Di Pintu Rumah

Elahe Norman - Ibu kepada lima orang anak dan pengasas bersama Tasptra Perkim, menjadikan pengalaman membesarkan anak yang mengalami kesukaran perkembangan dan pembelajaran sebagai dorongan untuk memahami cabaran yang dihadapi keluarga lain; sekali gus mengabdikan puluhan tahun kehidupannya membantu kanak-kanak kelainan upaya serta keluarga mereka mendapatkan sokongan dan peluang untuk menjalani kehidupan yang lebih baik.

Perkara paling indah tentang perjuangan seorang ibu ialah apabila pengalaman peribadi akhirnya memberi manfaat kepada orang lain. Apa yang dipelajari daripada sebuah perjalanan boleh menjadi panduan kepada keluarga lain.

Di situlah kasih seorang ibu berkembang daripada sesuatu yang sangat peribadi kepada sesuatu yang lebih besar. Daripada “anak saya”, ia berubah menjadi “anak-anak kita” kerana penghargaan ini bukan hanya tentang siapa yang menerima anugerah. Ia juga tentang mesej yang mahu disampaikan kepada masyarakat. Masyarakat perlu melihat, memahami dan perlu bersama-sama menyediakan ruang supaya setiap anak mempunyai peluang untuk berkembang.

Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman - Seorang Ibu kepada dua orang anak autistik, beliau berusaha membawa masyarakat melangkaui sekadar kesedaran tentang autisme dengan membuka ruang dan peluang kepada golongan dewasa muda neurodiversiti untuk mengembangkan bakat, membina kemahiran, mendapat bimbingan serta melangkah ke alam pekerjaan. 

Di belakang usaha yang meraikan para ibu ini, terdapat individu dan organisasi yang memilih untuk memastikan perjuangan tersebut diteruskan dalam bentuk tindakan. Antaranya ialah Datuk Fatimah Saad, Charter President Kiwanis Club of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (KCTTDI) dan penasihat kepada Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis. Peranan beliau mencerminkan satu perkara penting — penghargaan kepada seorang ibu tidak seharusnya berhenti apabila majlis berakhir.

Thilagavathy Karmegham - Perkongsian 13 tahun pengalaman melalui penulisan, menjadi sumber kekuatan dan harapan kepada keluarga lain yang menghadapi cabaran penyakit serius di kalangan kanak-kanak.

Dan melalui KCTTDI, usaha itu diteruskan menerusi Kiwanis Child Development Centre (KCDC). Pusat tersebut menyediakan perkhidmatan intervensi awal yang lebih mampu diakses, termasuk penilaian perkembangan, terapi pekerjaan serta terapi pertuturan dan bahasa.

Bagi keluarga yang berdepan dengan kos perkhidmatan profesional yang tinggi atau tempoh menunggu yang panjang, kemudahan seperti ini bukan sekadar sebuah pusat. Ia boleh menjadi satu bentuk harapan kerana peluang tidak sepatutnya bergantung pada kemampuan

Dalam perjalanan membesarkan anak yang memerlukan sokongan tambahan, masa amat berharga. Intervensi awal boleh membantu perkembangan kanak-kanak, tetapi tidak semua keluarga mempunyai kemampuan kewangan atau akses yang sama. Di sinilah usaha KCTTDI membawa makna yang lebih luas.

Naneecharam Muniandy – Menjadikan pengalaman membesarkan dua anak autisme sebagai inspirasi untuk membantu kanak-kanak autisme dan ibu lain melalui yoga, kesedaran minda serta Autism Flowers.

Melalui KCDC, keluarga yang berhadapan dengan cabaran sosioekonomi turut diberi perhatian, dengan perkhidmatan tertentu disediakan pada kadar subsidi bagi mereka yang layak. Ia adalah satu usaha untuk memastikan peluang tidak hanya tersedia kepada mereka yang mampu mendapatkannya.

Setiap anak berhak diberi peluang bukan kerana mereka perlu menjadi seperti orang lain tetapi kerana mereka juga mempunyai potensi, impian dan masa depan sendiri. Dan di sebalik setiap anak itu, ada seorang ibu yang berharap masyarakat dapat melihat lebih daripada sekadar cabaran.

Apa yang seorang ibu benar-benar mahukan?

Mungkin bukan pujian.
Bukan simpati.
Dan bukan juga sekadar sebuah trofi yang diletakkan di atas meja.
Apa yang seorang ibu mahukan ialah anaknya diterima.

Rajeswari Paramasevam – Di sebalik perjuangan membimbing anaknya, Varma, mengembangkan bakat seni, tersimpan kisah kasih dan pengorbanan seorang ibu yang dikongsi melalui buku Tears, Hope and Varma – A Mother’s Story; sebagai inspirasi kepada ibu-ibu lain.

Dia mahu anaknya dilihat sebagai seorang manusia — dengan kelebihan, impian, emosi dan potensi — bukan hanya melalui diagnosis atau perbezaannya.

Dia mahu anaknya diberi ruang untuk belajar.
Ruang untuk bermain.
Ruang untuk berkawan.
Ruang untuk mencuba.
Dan ruang untuk gagal tanpa terus dilabel.

Lebih daripada itu, seorang ibu mahu tahu bahawa apabila dia tidak lagi mampu berjalan seorang diri, ada tangan lain yang akan menyambutnya.Ada seseorang yang berkata: “Kami ada di sini. Mari kita lalui perjalanan ini bersama.”

Katherine Ho Tsui Mee – Kasih dan perjuangan membesarkan anaknya Jonathan, mendorong beliau membuka ruang dan peluang kepada golongan neurodivergen untuk mengembangkan bakat, membina kemahiran vokasional serta menjalani kehidupan yang lebih bermakna melalui Persatuan Kebajikan Sinar Cahaya Istimewa Kuala Lumpur.

Mungkin itulah antara hadiah terbesar yang boleh diberikan kepada seorang ibu. Bukan menyelesaikan semua masalahnya tetapi membuatkan dia tahu bahawa dia tidak perlu menghadapi semuanya sendirian.

Sembilan Ibu, Satu Mesej

Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026 akhirnya bukan sekadar kisah tentang sembilan penerima. Ia adalah kisah tentang ribuan ibu yang setiap hari melakukan perkara yang sama — terus mencuba, terus belajar, terus melindungi dan terus berharap.

Joyce Lim Lay Kuan - Seorang ibu yang tidak pernah melihat autisme sebagai batasan terhadap potensi anaknya, Clarence. Sebaliknya, beliau melihat bakat luar biasa yang dimiliki anaknya dalam bidang muzik, lalu membimbing dan menyokong perjalanan Clarence sehingga berjaya mengembangkan kemahirannya sebagai seorang pemain piano profesional dan beliau turut memperjuangkan peluang yang lebih luas buat pemuzik berkeperluan khas agar bakat mereka turut dihargai dan diberi tempat di persada dunia.

Ada yang tidak pernah menerima anugerah.
Ada yang perjuangannya tidak pernah dilihat.
Ada yang mungkin menangis dalam diam sebelum kembali tersenyum di hadapan anak.

Namun perjuangan mereka tetap mempunyai nilai kerana dunia sering melihat kejayaan melalui sesuatu yang besar dan jelas. Sedangkan seorang ibu tahu bahawa kadangkala kejayaan hadir dalam bentuk yang sangat kecil.

Satu perkataan baharu.
Satu langkah pertama.
Satu senyuman.
Satu pelukan.
Satu hari yang lebih baik daripada semalam.

Dan bagi seorang ibu, semua itu sudah cukup untuk membuatkan dia terus berharap.

Sentuhan Yang Meninggalkan Jejak

“A Mother’s Touch, A Lifetime of Love” akhirnya membawa kita kembali kepada perkara paling asas dalam kehidupan — KASIH IBU.

Zuraini Anuar - Didorong oleh kasih seorang ibu dan keyakinan terhadap potensi anaknya terus menyemai serta mengembangkan bakat seninya meskipun anaknya didiagnosis dengan autisme dan Sindrom Down. Mengasaskan WE & I Art sebagai wadah untuk membuka lebih banyak ruang dan peluang kepada golongan kelainan upaya menzahirkan bakat, berkarya dan mendapat pengiktirafan melalui seni

Kasih yang tidak memerlukan syarat.
Kasih yang tidak meminta balasan.
Kasih yang terus hadir walaupun perjalanan menjadi sukar.

Tetapi apabila kasih itu digabungkan dengan keberanian, ia menjadi suara.
Apabila digabungkan dengan pengetahuan, ia menjadi kekuatan.
Apabila digabungkan dengan komuniti, ia menjadi sokongan.

Dan apabila diterjemahkan melalui usaha seperti yang dilakukan oleh Datuk Fatimah Saad dan KCTTDI, ia boleh menjadi peluang sebenar untuk kehidupan yang lebih baik. Itulah sebabnya sebuah sentuhan ibu boleh membawa sejuta makna. Sentuhan itu mungkin hanya berlaku sesaat tetapi rasa selamat yang diberikannya boleh kekal seumur hidup.

Dan mungkin, itulah hadiah kasih paling indah seorang ibu — bukan sekadar membesarkan seorang anak, tetapi meninggalkan dunia yang sedikit lebih memahami, sedikit lebih menerima dan sedikit lebih manusiawi untuk anak-anak selepasnya.

Satu sentuhan.
Satu harapan.
Satu kehidupan.

Namun kesannya boleh menjangkau jauh lebih luas — daripada sebuah keluarga kepada sebuah komuniti, daripada sebuah komuniti kepada masyarakat, dan akhirnya kepada generasi yang akan datang. Kasih seorang ibu mungkin bermula dengan seorang anak tetapi apabila kasih itu dikongsi, ia boleh mengubah seluruh dunia seseorang. – NMH

The post Sentuhan Ibu, Sejuta Makna: Kasih Yang Tidak Pernah Berhenti first appeared on NMH.

PETALING JAYA, 29 October 2026 — Selangor’s hotel industry is looking to strengthen collaboration across the hospitality and tourism sectors as Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia 2027 (VM2027), with closer industry ties and stronger engagement with government agencies expected to play a key role, according to the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Selangor Chapter.

The chapter hosted about 120 hotel General Managers, industry partners, government representatives and tourism stakeholders at Hilton Petaling Jaya, where members also reflected on the year’s achievements and looked ahead to opportunities for the sector.

Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, Chairperson of the MAH Selangor Chapter, said the hospitality industry might comprise competing hotels and brands, but its members faced many of the same challenges.

“We may represent different hotels and brands, and naturally, we compete for business. But at the end of the day, we are all part of the same hospitality family,” she said.

She said this made collaboration and the sharing of knowledge particularly important, with MAH providing a platform for members to connect, exchange ideas and support one another.

“We face many of the same challenges, and there is so much we can learn from one another. Sometimes, a simple conversation with a fellow GM can provide a solution to a problem that has been keeping us awake at night,” she said.

MAH Selangor Steps Up Member Engagement

Over the past year, MAH Selangor organised six training programmes, five sporting events and two corporate social responsibility initiatives, reflecting its focus on professional development, member engagement and community contribution.

The chapter also strengthened member engagement through three subcommittees covering Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, and Safety & Security.

The platforms allow members to exchange expertise, discuss common operational challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration across the industry.

The chapter has also continued engaging relevant government agencies on issues affecting the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Datin Jasmine said the work of hoteliers was demanding, with operators having to constantly respond to changing market conditions while maintaining service standards.

“As hoteliers, we all know that running a hotel is never easy. Every day brings something new,” she said.

“When occupancy is high, we worry about manpower. When occupancy is low, we worry about the bottom line. And when everything seems to be going well, we wonder what we may have overlooked.”

She said the ability to adapt, solve problems and support one another was critical in an industry where people remained at the heart of the guest experience.

Looking Ahead To VM2027

With Visit Malaysia 2027 approaching, the Selangor chapter sees opportunities for hotels and tourism stakeholders to work more closely to attract visitors, develop new experiences and strengthen the state’s position as an important tourism destination.

Datin Jasmine said the industry should use the opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s hospitality offerings while continuing to improve the visitor experience.

“Let us continue to work together to attract more visitors to Selangor, develop innovative experiences, deliver memorable guest experiences and strengthen our industry,” she said.

The chapter will continue to focus on member development, industry advocacy, marketing and promotional initiatives, as well as closer collaboration with Tourism Selangor, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and other industry stakeholders.

Stronger Connections Across The Industry

The year-end gathering also provided an opportunity for hotel leaders and industry partners to step away from the day-to-day demands of hotel operations and reconnect with colleagues across the sector.

Organising Chairman Aaron Tan said strong partnerships between hotels, industry stakeholders and government agencies would remain important to the continued growth of Malaysia’s tourism and hospitality sector.

“Strong partnerships and close collaboration among hotels, industry stakeholders and government agencies are essential to the continued growth of Malaysia’s tourism and hospitality sector,” he said.

He said platforms that brought industry leaders together allowed them to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas and work towards shared goals.

The evening featured food, music and lucky draws, but more importantly provided an informal setting for members and partners to renew relationships built throughout the year.

For Datin Jasmine, those relationships are among the industry’s greatest strengths.

“As we come to nearly the end of another year, I hope we can take a moment to appreciate not only what we have achieved, but also the friendships we have built along the way,” she said.

As the hospitality industry prepares for a potentially stronger tourism environment in 2027, MAH Selangor is expected to continue advocating for its members while encouraging greater collaboration and the sharing of best practices across the sector.

Its guiding principle — People First. Stronger Connections. Better Together. — reflects the chapter’s focus on bringing hospitality professionals together and building a more resilient and sustainable industry. – NMH

The post MAH Selangor Chapter Looks To Stronger Industry Collaboration Ahead Of VM2027 first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 October 2026: Motherhood can begin with the simple instinct to protect one’s child. For some mothers, however, that journey becomes something much bigger — a lifelong commitment to creating a better world not only for their own children, but for others facing similar challenges.

That was the spirit behind Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis (AIK) 2026, which honoured nine remarkable mothers at a special Hi-Tea at Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown on Sunday.

Held under the theme “A Mother’s Touch, A Lifetime of Love”, the annual recognition by Kiwanis Club of Taman Tun Dr Ismail celebrates mothers raising children with special needs, as well as mothers whose own lives have been shaped by disability and inclusion.

This year’s recipients were Ashley Pang Yek Sze, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, Katherine Ho Tsui Mee, Joyce Lim Lay Kuan, Naneecharam Muniandy, Elahe Norman, Rajeswari Paramasevam, Thilagavathy Karmegham and Zuraini Anuar.

Their stories are different, but there is a common thread — they did not allow challenges to become the end of their children’s stories.

Instead, many turned their experiences into advocacy, support networks, creative opportunities, education initiatives and practical help for other families.

Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026: Nine Journeys, One Powerful Message

Ashley Pang Yek Sze has built a life around supporting her son Alexander, who has Down syndrome, while creating opportunities for other young people and adults with disabilities through initiatives including Alex’s Bakery, Alexo Store and Project Kindness.

Katherine Ho Tsui Mee’s journey with her autistic son Jonathan led her to establish Persatuan Kebajikan Sinar Cahaya Istimewa Kuala Lumpur, which focuses on vocational training, skills development and social opportunities for neurodivergent individuals.

Naneecharam Muniandy, mother of two children on the autism spectrum, turned her personal journey into wider support for autistic children and mothers, including through yoga, mindfulness and her social enterprise Autism Flowers.

Rajeswari Paramasevam has devoted herself to helping her autistic son Varma develop his abilities as an artist, while also sharing their journey through her book Tears, Hope and Varma – A Mother’s Story and supporting autism-related organisations.

Thilagavathy Karmegham spent 13 years supporting her son through childhood cancer and later shared their experience through writing, offering encouragement to other families dealing with serious childhood illness.

Zuraini Anuar nurtured her daughter Izzati’s artistic abilities following her autism and Down syndrome diagnoses and went on to create platforms and opportunities for artists with disabilities through WE & I Art.

Elahe Norman, a mother of five and co-founder of Tasptra Perkim, turned her experience caring for her son with developmental and learning difficulties into decades of work supporting children with disabilities and their families.

Joyce Lim Lay Kuan, whose son Clarence is autistic, recognised his abilities in music and supported his development as a pianist while advocating for opportunities for musicians with special needs all over the world.

And then there is Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, NMH‘s own Editor-In-Chief.

From Raising Four Boys To Raising A Voice For Many

A mother of four sons and a single mother, Hasnah’s journey with autism began decades ago when her son Ahmad Ziqri was diagnosed at four.

She has described the years that followed simply: she tried everything.

Special education. Therapies. Learning. Research. Writing. Public relations. Emceeing. Food and catering. And the list goes on.

Whatever could help her family survive, and whatever could put food on the table, she was prepared to try.

But somewhere along the way, raising her own children became the starting point for something much bigger.

Her experiences raising Ziqri and her younger son Aidel, who is also on the autism spectrum, eventually led her into advocacy for neurodivergent individuals and their families.

In 2018, when Ziqri came into contact with the justice system, Hasnah found herself speaking publicly about the need for greater understanding of autism and more appropriate procedures when people with special needs encounter the authorities.

It was a difficult chapter, but it also strengthened her determination to advocate.

Today, as President of Pertubuhan Rentak, Irama, Seni & Ekspresi (R.I.S.E.), Hasnah is working to move the conversation beyond awareness towards real opportunities for neurodiverse young adults — through talent development, mentoring, skills, employment pathways and inclusion.

Her philosophy is straightforward: see the person before the diagnosis.

And her advocacy is not limited to her own sons.

She represents families raising children on the autism spectrum, single parents navigating the challenges of raising neurodiverse children, and families who struggle to find the resources and opportunities their children need.

“I represent families with children on the autism spectrum,” Hasnah said.

“I represent single parents trying to bring up their neurodiverse children on their own. I also represent the parents of kids with challenges and not knowing where their next meal will be.”

For her, motherhood has never been simply about getting a child through childhood.

“Raising a child means planning for the future. Raising a child with special needs means the future is now.”

From Awareness to Opportunity

The message of AIK 2026 extends beyond the nine women being honoured.

This year’s programme also marked an important development in Kiwanis’ work with the launch of the Kiwanis Child Development Centre (KCDC), established to provide more accessible intervention and therapy services for children from lower-income families.

The centre offers developmental assessment, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, with subsidised services intended to ease the financial burden faced by families who might otherwise struggle to access private therapy.

It is a fitting addition to an award that recognises mothers whose lives have often been shaped by the same question: What happens when a child needs more support than a family can afford?

The answer, increasingly, is that families should not have to face that journey alone.

A Mother’s Touch, A Lifetime of Love

For Hasnah, the award came as something of a surprise.

Her eldest son, Bob Morshidi, had nominated her with support from friends and colleagues. She had forgotten about the nomination by the time Kiwanis called.

She was in court and could not answer the call.

The message from Bob was much simpler:

“Congrats Mum, you won!”

She had to ask: “Won what?”

On Sunday, she found out exactly what.

But perhaps the most meaningful part of the afternoon was not the award itself.

It was sitting among eight other mothers whose stories reflected different forms of courage, sacrifice and love — and seeing how each had transformed personal challenges into something positive for others.

As Hasnah reflected after the ceremony, difficult times may last for a while, but they do not have to define the future.

That may be the most powerful message of Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026.

Behind every child who needs extra support is a mother who keeps going.

And sometimes, behind that mother’s determination is the beginning of change for an entire community. – NMH

The post Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026 Celebrates Nine Mothers Who Turn Challenges Into Change first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: In an age when businesses are increasingly turning to technology and artificial intelligence, Sophia Natasya Malik, the general manager of Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur believes there is one thing technology cannot replace: the human touch.

For her, that human touch began with something surprisingly simple – getting to know a young man she had never met.

His name is Ziqri.

Sophia had come across Facebook posts by his mother, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, about her autistic son and the times he would leave their home in Mont Kiara and make his way towards his former school, SMK Kiaramas.

Then Sophia realised something.

Dorsett Hartamas sits almost right in the middle of that journey.

And she began to wonder: what if Ziqri passed the hotel one day?

What if the staff knew who he was?

What if, instead of simply seeing a young man walking past, they could recognise him, approach him and help him get safely home?

That simple thought eventually led to an invitation for Ziqri, Hasnah and his brother Aidel to spend a night at Dorsett Hartamas.

Dorsett Wanted to Know Ziqri

The invitation was not simply about giving the family a complimentary hotel stay.

For Sophia, it was about allowing her team to meet Ziqri, understand him better and, importantly, know what he looks like should he ever pass the hotel on his own.

It was about turning a name and a Facebook story into a person they knew.

Sophia said the initiative also came from understanding how challenging life can be for parents raising children with autism and other special needs.

“There’s something AI cannot do,” she said during a conversation with Hasnah and Aidel. “It cannot give the human touch” or compassion.

That, she said, was where the hotel could play a role.

Sophia spoke about giving families like Hasnah’s some time away from their usual routines – not necessarily a grand “me time”, but at least an opportunity to relax, be pampered and enjoy a change of environment.

She even drew a comparison with the idea of parents being given trusted support so they could have an occasional date night or simply some personal time.

For parents who spend so much of their lives caring for their children, she noted, such opportunities can be difficult to come by.

Aidel’s Birthday Makes the Stay Extra Special

There was another reason the hotel wanted to make the stay memorable.

Aidel’s birthday had fallen just a few days earlier.

Once the team found out, they decided to make the occasion part of the family’s stay.

The family was treated to accommodation and a set hi-tea at Table Talk, turning what had started as an opportunity to get to know Ziqri into a small family celebration.

For Aidel, it was a chance to enjoy his birthday in a setting away from his usual routine – a nice break from his weekday college routine and weekend work at Nandos.

For Ziqri, it was an opportunity to become familiar with the people and surroundings of a hotel that happens to sit along a route he has travelled before.

And for Hasnah, the gesture carried a meaning that went beyond the room or the meal.

It was the knowledge that someone outside the family had taken the time to understand her sons.

More Than a Hotel Stay

That is perhaps what made the experience different.

Hotels are accustomed to welcoming guests. But there is a difference between accommodating someone and taking the trouble to understand them.

For Hasnah, the Dorsett Hartamas team went beyond the usual expectations of hospitality.

In her review of the hotel, she described how the management and staff treated her two sons “like kings”, adding that it was obvious that giving back to the community was part of the hotel’s DNA.

That impression was also reflected in the hotel’s wider community initiatives.

Dorsett Hartamas recently launched its “Thank You, Riders!” programme, allowing delivery riders to purchase breakfast takeaway packs for RM3 every Friday, with the proceeds channelled to the hotel’s charity fund.

It is a small gesture, but it reflects the same philosophy: a hotel is not isolated from the community around it.

It is part of that community.

When Social Sustainability Becomes Personal

For Sophia, that sense of community extends beyond environmental sustainability.

It includes people.

It includes families.

And it includes creating opportunities for people who may not always feel included in conventional spaces.

Her conversation with Hasnah touched on the particular challenges faced by families with special needs and how hospitality businesses could potentially create experiences that make such families feel more comfortable and welcomed.

There is also a practical dimension.

Sophia acknowledged that initiatives must have both heart and commercial value. Greater community awareness and stronger engagement can also create value for the business, while making the hotel more connected to the neighbourhood it serves.

In other words, social sustainability does not have to sit separately from business.

It can become part of how a business operates.

From One Family to a Bigger Vision

The stay also gave Hasnah an opportunity to share with Sophia the wider vision she is developing through her RISE NGO and its collaboration with Dorsett Grand Subang.

That vision goes beyond inviting neurodiverse families into hotels.

It looks at how neurodiverse people themselves can become part of the hospitality ecosystem – as artists, performers, guests and, potentially, employees.

Among the ideas discussed are art exhibitions and sales, performances by neurodiverse talents, inclusive high-tea experiences and opportunities to engage neurodiverse young people in hospitality.

Hasnah also sees potential for hotels to provide calming spaces for neurodiverse guests, while training management and staff to better understand and support neurodiverse employees and visitors.

The longer-term goal is to make hospitality more inclusive not just for the people staying in the hotel, but also for those working and performing there.

These are still ideas and possibilities, rather than initiatives being announced as part of this particular stay.

But they all come from the same principle that brought Ziqri to Dorsett Hartamas in the first place:

Get to know the person. Understand what they need. Then find a way to include them.

Sometimes Inclusion Starts With Knowing a Face

There is something quietly powerful about the reason behind the invitation.

Sophia did not invite Ziqri because she wanted to turn his story into a publicity exercise.

She had read about him, realised that her hotel was part of the route he sometimes took, and thought her team might one day be able to help.

So she wanted them to know him.

To know his face.

To understand him.

And perhaps, if Ziqri ever walks past Dorsett Hartamas alone, someone inside will recognise him and know that he is not simply a stranger passing by.

He is Ziqri.

And they know where he belongs.

For Hasnah, that was the most meaningful part of the stay.

The suite was lovely. The hi-tea was a treat. Aidel’s birthday celebration was special.

But sometimes, the greatest hospitality is something much simpler.

It is knowing that someone has taken the trouble to know your child.

And perhaps that is the human touch that no technology can replace. – NMH

The post Dorsett Hartamas: When A Hotel Decides To Know Ziqri, Not Just Know His Story first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: For former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Wednesday’s court decision was undoubtedly another painful setback.

But it was not the end.

After the High Court rejected his application to stay the execution of the 15-year sentence and RM11.4 billion fine in the 1MDB case, his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah emerged from court visibly disappointed — describing the decision as one that had left the defence “very disappointed” and, indeed, “shocked”.

Yet beneath the disappointment was something else: determination.

Because for Najib and his legal team, the question now is not simply what happened in the High Court.

It is what happens next.

Shafee confirmed that the defence will file a fresh application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal after obtaining the full grounds of the High Court’s decision.

And that distinction matters.

Najib’s substantive appeal against the conviction and sentence imposed by Sequerah has already been filed at the Court of Appeal. He lodged his notice of appeal on 29 December 2025, shortly after being sentenced on 26 December. What the defence is now seeking is a stay of execution pending that appeal.

It Was A Stay, Not The End Of The Appeal

Najib was not asking the High Court to overturn the 1MDB conviction or the sentence imposed by Sequerah.

He was asking for the execution of that sentence to be stayed while the legal challenge continues.

That distinction matters.

A stay would not have erased the conviction or overturned the sentence. It would simply have paused its execution while Najib pursued his appeal.

The High Court, however, found that Najib had failed to satisfy the special-circumstances test required to justify a stay.

Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin gave significant weight to the gravity of the offences and public-interest considerations, and also rejected the defence’s arguments based on Najib’s medical condition.

That was where the defence fundamentally disagreed with the court.

Shafee argued that public interest should be viewed differently when the issue before the court was whether execution should be stayed.

“Public interest is when you consider how to punish it, not when it is a question of stay,” he said.

That argument will now be taken to the Court of Appeal.

Why The Defence Is So Disappointed

There was another point that clearly troubled Shafee.

He questioned the treatment of Najib as a repeat offender, pointing out that the prosecution itself had submitted that Najib was not a repeat offender.

Yet the judge did not accept that position.

Shafee argued that the offences in the SRC and 1MDB cases occurred during broadly the same period and questioned why Najib should be treated as a repeat offender in the circumstances.

For the defence, these are not minor technicalities.

They go to the reasoning behind the decision to refuse the stay.

And there is another important part of the story that may easily be overlooked.

The defence had deliberately chosen not to seek a stay immediately after Sequerah delivered the 1MDB judgment in December 2025.

According to Shafee’s submissions, Najib was then already serving his SRC sentence, and the defence wanted to preserve the possibility that the two sentences could run concurrently if the appellate court ultimately ruled in Najib’s favour on that issue.

The decision not to seek a stay at that time, Shafee argued, was expressly premised on Najib retaining the right to apply for a stay later, depending on subsequent developments.

The situation changed after the conditional pardon and the prospect of house arrest.

The 1MDB sentence, which is due to begin after Najib completes his existing SRC sentence, suddenly became much more immediate in practical terms.

That is why the defence is fighting for a stay now.

Stay First

Shafee was clear that the main appeal could take years.

And that, from the defence’s perspective, is precisely why a stay matters.

“We are going to the Court of Appeal to file a similar application,” he said.

The substantive appeal is already there.

The new battle is over whether the 1MDB sentence should be put on hold while that appeal is being heard.

For now, Shafee’s strategy can perhaps be summed up in two words:

“Stay first.”

And Then There Is Home

While one door has closed for Najib, another appears to be opening.

And this is perhaps the most human part of Wednesday’s developments.

Shafee confirmed that Najib has now received the official order relating to his house arrest, together with an attachment setting out its terms and conditions.

But the details cannot be disclosed.

According to Shafee, Najib has been instructed by the Prisons Department not to reveal the contents because the information is intended for his own use and disclosure could lead to public speculation.

One important detail, however, has been confirmed.

The house-arrest location is Najib’s own home at Langgak Duta, where he will be able to stay with his family.

The arrangement relates to the remainder of his existing SRC sentence, which was reduced to six years under the earlier pardon and is due to run until 23 August 2028.

The conditional pardon granted in September allows him to serve that remainder under house arrest, subject to the RM50 million payment condition.

But the High Court’s rejection of the 1MDB stay does not, in itself, cancel the separate house-arrest arrangement.

Shafee confirmed that the two matters remain distinct.

Two Legal Battles, Two Very Different Paths

This is where the story becomes more complicated than the headline of a rejected stay application might suggest.

There are now two separate legal tracks.

The first is the 1MDB case, where Najib has suffered a setback in his bid for a stay, but where his substantive appeal is already before the Court of Appeal and his lawyers will now file a fresh application seeking a stay.

The second is the SRC sentence and house-arrest arrangement, where the mechanism for Najib to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence at home has moved forward.

The two should not be conflated.

Indeed, the fact that Najib has received the house-arrest order and its accompanying documentation is significant in its own right.

For the first time, there is greater clarity about what the arrangement means in practical terms: when the conditions are fulfilled, the former prime minister will be able to serve the remainder of his SRC sentence at the home where his family lives.

And yet the future beyond 2028 remains tied to the 1MDB case.

As Shafee explained, if Najib ultimately does not obtain a stay of the 1MDB sentence, he could still face that sentence after the SRC term ends in 2028.

So Wednesday’s ruling did not simply produce a “yes” or “no” outcome for Najib’s future.

It produced another layer of uncertainty.

The Human Side Of The Legal Battle

For someone who has been behind bars since August 2022, the prospect of returning home is about more than legal technicalities.

It means waking up in his own home.

It means being with his family.

It means a very different kind of confinement from prison, even though it remains a form of detention with conditions attached.

And that prospect now exists alongside another battle — one that could determine what happens after 2028.

That is why the disappointment expressed by Shafee matters.

The stay application was, in practical terms, about buying time while the substantive appeal runs its course.

The High Court has said no.

The defence believes it should have said yes.

And now it will ask the Court of Appeal to decide whether the 1MDB sentence should remain on hold while that larger legal battle continues.

The Fight Moves On

For Najib, Wednesday was therefore neither a final victory nor the end of the road.

The immediate hope that the 1MDB sentence could be stayed by the High Court has been dashed.

But the substantive appeal remains alive.

And the defence is preparing another application — this time before the Court of Appeal — to seek the stay it failed to secure at the High Court.

At the same time, there is the prospect of home.

Langgak Duta.

His family.

And the possibility of serving the remainder of his SRC sentence under house arrest, once the conditions of the order are fulfilled.

For Najib, one door has closed.

But another legal door is already opening.

And somewhere in between those two doors is the prospect of home — and, beyond that, another legal battle still waiting to be fought.

For now, however, the message from his legal team is simple:

Stay first.

Then, the fight continues. – NMH

The post For Najib Razak, The Fight Continues first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur mahu mengucapkan terima kasih kepada golongan penghantar makanan yang setiap hari menjadi penghubung antara restoran, perniagaan dan pelanggan di sekitar Kuala Lumpur.

Menerusi inisiatif “Thank You, Riders!”, penghantar makanan boleh mendapatkan pek sarapan untuk dibawa pulang pada harga hanya RM3 setiap Jumaat, mulai jam 11 pagi, selagi stok masih ada. Pengenalan rider yang sah diperlukan.

Tetapi yang menjadikan inisiatif ini lebih bermakna ialah RM3 yang dibayar oleh rider bukan sekadar harga untuk sebungkus sarapan.

Keseluruhan hasil jualan akan disalurkan kepada tabung kebajikan hotel bagi membantu golongan yang memerlukan.

Maka, dalam satu urusan yang cukup kecil, ada dua bentuk kebaikan berlaku.

Rider mendapat sarapan pada harga berpatutan.

Dan pada masa sama, bayaran mereka turut membantu orang lain.

Dorsett Hargai Abang Rider Dengan Sarapan RM3

Bagi seorang rider yang ditemui, RM3 mungkin nampak kecil kepada sesetengah orang.

Tetapi bagi mereka yang setiap hari perlu mengira perbelanjaan petrol dan keperluan lain, sedikit penjimatan tetap membawa makna.

“RM3 ni kita dapat jimatlah untuk pagi hari. Kita boleh gantikan dengan duit minyak,” katanya.

Rider berkenaan juga sebenarnya masih belajar dan melakukan kerja penghantaran secara sambilan, biasanya ketika cuti atau selepas menghadiri kelas.

Bagi seorang pelajar yang menggunakan masa lapang untuk mencari pendapatan tambahan, beberapa ringgit yang dapat dijimatkan pada waktu pagi boleh membantu mengurus perbelanjaan harian dengan lebih baik.

Seorang lagi rider pula sudah beberapa tahun melakukan kerja penghantaran dan melihat inisiatif itu sebagai sesuatu yang praktikal untuk golongan rider.

Menurutnya, selain dapat menjimatkan kos, lokasi Dorsett Hartamas juga memudahkan rider yang mengambil pesanan di kawasan berkenaan untuk singgah mendapatkan sarapan sebelum meneruskan perjalanan.

“Bagus untuk masyarakat. Benda ni bagus,” katanya.

Di Sebalik Setiap Penghantaran, Ada Cerita

Kehidupan seorang rider mungkin kelihatan mudah dari sudut pelanggan.

Pesanan dibuat.

Rider mengambil makanan.

Beberapa minit atau mungkin lebih lama kemudian, makanan sampai di depan pintu.

Tetapi di sebalik setiap penghantaran itu ada seseorang yang perlu berada di atas motosikal, berdepan kesesakan lalu lintas dan cuaca yang tidak menentu, selain menanggung kos petrol dan penyelenggaraan kenderaan.

Bagi seorang lagi rider yang ditemu bual, kerja penghantaran juga dilakukan secara sambilan bagi mencari pendapatan tambahan. Beliau biasanya mengaktifkan aplikasi Grab sekitar jam 5 petang dan turut bekerja pada hujung minggu.

“Kalau buat satu kerja mana cukup,” katanya.

Ayat yang ringkas, tetapi menggambarkan realiti bahawa bagi sesetengah orang, satu sumber pendapatan mungkin belum mencukupi untuk memenuhi keperluan harian.

Sebab itu, apabila sebuah hotel menyediakan sesuatu yang kecil tetapi benar-benar berguna kepada mereka, penghargaan itu terasa lebih dekat.

Bila Rider Juga Boleh Menyumbang

Bagi Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, inisiatif ini bukan sekadar tentang menyediakan sarapan murah.

Menurut Sophia Natasha Malik, General Manager Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, penghantar makanan merupakan sebahagian penting daripada kehidupan seharian dan komuniti.

Hotel itu mahu mewujudkan cara yang mudah tetapi bermakna untuk mengucapkan terima kasih atas usaha mereka, selain menggalakkan semangat memberi kembali kepada masyarakat.

Dan di sinilah “Thank You, Riders!” mempunyai nilai yang tersendiri.

Rider bukan sekadar penerima manfaat.

Mereka juga menjadi sebahagian daripada usaha membantu orang lain.

RM3 yang mereka bayar untuk sarapan membantu mereka menjimatkan sedikit perbelanjaan harian.

Pada masa yang sama, wang yang sama dikumpulkan untuk tabung kebajikan hotel dan disalurkan kepada mereka yang memerlukan.

Satu sarapan.

Satu tanda penghargaan.

Dan satu lagi peluang untuk berbuat baik.

Kebaikan Yang Bermula Dengan RM3

Dalam dunia yang semakin sibuk, kita mungkin tidak selalu terfikir tentang orang di sebalik setiap penghantaran yang kita terima.

Kita hanya nampak makanan sampai.

Tetapi bagi rider, setiap pesanan adalah sebahagian daripada usaha mencari rezeki.

Justeru, mungkin sebab itu penghargaan seperti ini terasa bermakna.

Ia tidak perlu besar.

Tidak perlu mewah.

Kadangkala, cukup dengan menyediakan sarapan yang mampu dibeli, mengucapkan terima kasih dan mengingatkan mereka bahawa usaha mereka turut dilihat dan dihargai.

Dan yang lebih indah, kali ini abang rider sendiri turut diberi peluang untuk membantu orang lain.

Mungkin hanya RM3.

Tetapi kebaikan yang bermula dengan RM3 itu boleh pergi lebih jauh.

Terima kasih, abang rider. – NMH

The post Dorsett Hartamas: Terima Kasih, Abang Rider, Kami Hargai Jasa Anda first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur is putting a different spin on corporate social responsibility (CSR) by turning something as ordinary as a RM3 breakfast into a two-way community initiative.

Under its “Thank You, Riders!” programme, delivery riders can purchase a takeaway breakfast pack for RM3 every Friday from 11am onwards, while stocks last.

The initiative is designed as a gesture of appreciation for the riders who spend their days connecting businesses and communities across Kuala Lumpur.

But there is another layer to it.

All proceeds from the breakfast sales are chanelled to the hotel’s charity fund to support people in need.

So while the rider receives an affordable breakfast, the RM3 also becomes part of a wider contribution to the community.

It is a small transaction with a potentially bigger social purpose.

Dorsett Turns a Simple Meal Into a Community Loop

At the heart of this initiative is a simple yet meaningful idea for just RM3, a rider enjoys a breakfast and receives something genuinely useful in return, while the proceeds are channelled to a charitable cause. In this way, the rider is not merely a beneficiary, they are a valued participant in a cycle of kindness and giving.

The rider becomes part of the giving.

That distinction is what makes the initiative interesting from a CSR perspective.

For one rider interviewed, the RM3 saving can be put towards petrol.

“RM3 ni kita dapat jimatlah untuk pagi hari. Kita boleh gantikan dengan duit minyak,” he said. (This RM3 can be our saving for the morning. It can be replaced with the cost of pertrol.)

The rider is also a student who does delivery work part-time, usually during his holidays or after classes.

Another rider, who has been doing delivery work for several years, said the initiative could help riders reduce their daily expenses while offering a convenient place to stop for breakfast when collecting orders around Hartamas.

He described it simply as “bagus untuk masyarakat” (good for the community).

For riders, the benefit may seem modest.

But that is precisely where the model becomes interesting.

Dorsett’s Different Approach to CSR

CSR is often associated with large donations, sponsorships or one-off community programmes.

“Thank You, Riders!” takes a more everyday approach.

Instead of simply giving something away, Dorsett has created a product that people can genuinely use, priced it affordably and connected the transaction to a social purpose.

It is not a large financial commitment from the individual rider.

But collectively, those small contributions can support the hotel’s charity fund.

For Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, it also creates a direct connection with a community that is an increasingly visible part of everyday urban life.

“Delivery riders are an important part of our everyday lives, and we wanted to create a simple yet meaningful way to say thank you for everything they do,” said Sophia Natasha Malik, General Manager of Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur.

She said the initiative was intended not only to show appreciation, but also to encourage a spirit of giving back to the community. Press Release – Helping Community

From Beneficiary to Participant

There is a subtle but important difference between helping a community and involving a community.

In the first model, the company gives and the community receives.

In the second, both sides participate.

That is what makes Dorsett’s RM3 breakfast concept worth looking at from a business and ESG perspective.

The hotel provides the platform.

The rider receives an affordable meal.

The rider’s payment contributes to a social cause.

And the wider community benefits from the proceeds.

The initiative therefore creates a simple cycle of appreciation, participation and giving.

It also gives dignity to the recipient.

The rider is not being positioned as someone who simply needs help. He is a working member of the community who is being recognised for his contribution – and given an opportunity to contribute in return.

Why Small Can Be Meaningful

There is perhaps a broader lesson here for businesses thinking about CSR.

Not every meaningful initiative needs a large budget.

Sometimes, the strongest ideas are those that can be incorporated into everyday business activity and repeated consistently.

“Thank You, Riders!” runs every Friday from 11am, while stocks last, with valid rider identification required and the breakfast available for takeaway only.

Its simplicity may actually be one of its strengths.

There is no elaborate event.

No complicated mechanism.

Just breakfast, a RM3 price tag and a social purpose attached to the transaction.

For the rider, it can mean saving a few ringgit on breakfast and putting that money towards petrol or other daily expenses.

For Dorsett, it becomes a way to recognise an important part of the community while supporting its charitable efforts.

And for the people who ultimately benefit from the charity fund, those small contributions can add up to something more meaningful.

Dorsett Shows That Everyone Can Give

The most interesting aspect of the initiative may be the question it raises for businesses:

What if CSR does not always have to be about giving something away?

What if it can be about creating something people value, making it accessible and then giving them the opportunity to be part of the social impact?

That changes the relationship between business and community.

The company is no longer simply the giver.

The customer, employee or community member is no longer simply the recipient.

Everyone has a role to play.

For Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, that idea begins with the people who keep the city moving – one delivery at a time.

And sometimes, giving back does not need to start with a big cheque.

It can start with RM3. – NMH

The post CSR With a Difference: When Giving Back Starts With RM3 first appeared on NMH.

At Dorsett Hotels, it has meant early morning check-ins, last-minute birthday cakes, remembering a guest’s coffee order, and holding space for travellers during their best days and their hardest ones.

That’s why Dorsett is marking its milestone with Perfect 10 – a 10-day celebration across its properties, beginning this month.

But this isn’t about balloons and banners.

It’s about the people who made the last decade feel like home.

Dorsett’s Perfect 10 is about Staying, Exploring and Being Rewarded

In Malaysia, Perfect 10 was launched at Dorsett Kuala Lumpur as the latest experience under the Dorsett Your Rewards loyalty programme.

Its promise is simple:

Stay. Explore. Reward.

Members who complete 10 eligible room nights across a minimum of two stays within 12 months will unlock a Reward Credit equivalent to one complimentary night.

Or, put even more simply:

Stay 10 nights. Get 1 night free.

But Perfect 10 is not simply about getting a free night.

It is about giving guests more reasons to stay at Dorsett, discover new destinations and experience the little things that can turn a hotel stay into something worth remembering.

And that is where the celebration comes in.

Ten Stories, Ten Experiences

Rather than one big anniversary gala, Dorsett has built Perfect 10 around 10 themes that reflect what guests and staff say matters most: Welcome, Family, Comfort, Discovery, Care, Celebration, Sustainability, Local Roots, Togetherness and Giving Back.

Each day of the campaign, a different Dorsett hotel will spotlight one of these themes through an experience designed to put people first.

At Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, Welcome Day began with handwritten notes left on pillows.

Not printed.

Handwritten.

Housekeeping team members stayed after their shifts to write “we’re glad you’re here” in six languages.

At Dorsett Singapore, Family Day turned the lobby into a pop-up play area where parents could enjoy 20 minutes of uninterrupted coffee while staff ran craft tables for their children.

One father, who has stayed at Dorsett on 14 business trips this year, said it was the first time he did not have to choose between taking work calls and reading to his daughter.

At Dorsett Hong Kong, Care Day meant partnering with a local senior centre. Chefs taught residents how to make congee the Dorsett way, while the residents shared recipes dating back to the 1970s.

“We learned more about flavour in two hours than we did in culinary school,” said Chef Mei Ling.

The Kuala Lumpur launch itself reflected that spirit, with guests invited to move through 10 interactive experience stations covering everything from Malaysian flavours and local discoveries to wellness, social experiences and rewards.

Each guest received a Perfect 10 passport and collected stamps along the way, with those completing all 10 stations earning entry into a Lucky Draw.

The People Behind the Perfect Stay

Perfect 10 also turns the spotlight inward.

Because behind every remembered coffee order, birthday cake and warm welcome is a person.

Over the past year, Dorsett asked team members across 12 cities one question:

“What’s one moment that made you proud to work here?”

Their answers became the backbone of the campaign.

There’s Arif from Dorsett Putrajaya, who once drove 40 minutes at midnight to deliver forgotten medication to a guest’s child.

There’s Priya in London, who coordinated with three embassies to help a couple get married at 48 hours’ notice after their original venue cancelled.

And there’s the entire night team at Dorsett Tsuen Wan, who pooled their tips to buy groceries for a family stranded during a typhoon.

“We don’t train people to do those things,” said Peggy Tan, Cluster General Manager, Dorsett Kuala Lumpur.

“We hire people who already care, then we get out of their way. Perfect 10 is about celebrating that instinct.”

Throughout the 10 days, each hotel will share a staff story on social media and in its lobby. Guests are invited to share their own memories too, through a memory wall carrying a simple prompt:

“My Perfect 10 moment at Dorsett was…”

When a Hotel Stay Becomes a Memory

Peggy summed up the thinking behind Perfect 10 at the Malaysian launch.

“At Dorsett, we believe that every stay should be more than simply a night away,” she said.

“It should be an opportunity to discover, connect, experience and create memories.”

It is a simple thought, but perhaps that is what makes it work.

A hotel stay can be a business trip, a family holiday, a weekend escape or simply one night between two destinations.

But it can also be where someone celebrates a birthday, meets an old friend, discovers a new city, gets a little help when things go wrong – or simply feels looked after.

That is the kind of hospitality that people remember.

And that is what Dorsett is celebrating after 10 years.

Giving Back Beyond the Hotel

The celebration will also extend beyond Dorsett’s properties and into the communities where its hotels operate.

Over the next 10 months, Dorsett is committing to 10 community projects, with each property choosing a local partner.

In Petaling Jaya, Dorsett will sponsor 10 scholarships for hospitality students at a local college, together with mentorship days involving department heads.

In Sydney, the hotel will fund 10,000 meals through a food rescue organisation, while in Johor Bahru, the team will refurbish a community reading room.

“We grew because neighbourhoods let us be part of them,” Chan said.

“Perfect 10 is a promise that the next decade will be even more local.”

Guests can play a part too.

For every booking made during Perfect 10, Dorsett will donate a meal to its city partner.

And for returning guests who have stayed 10 times or more, there is a different kind of reward: a Perfect 10 Passport, offering experiences rather than conventional discounts.

Think a kitchen tour with the chef, a sunrise rooftop walk with the general manager, or even choosing the lobby playlist for a day.

What Comes After 10?

Hospitality is changing fast.

Guests want speed, but they also want warmth.

They want apps, but they also want someone to remember their name.

For Dorsett, the next 10 years will be about finding that balance.

The company plans to invest in quieter technology, such as mobile check-in that does not replace the front desk hello, while strengthening its community focus, including a plan to source 30 per cent more ingredients from local farms by 2028.

“We’re not trying to be the biggest,” Tan said.

“We’re trying to be the hotel you think of when someone asks, ‘where did you feel taken care of?’

“If we do that 10 times out of 10, that’s perfect to us.”

And perhaps that is what Perfect 10 is really about.

Not just 10 years.

Not just 10 nights.

Not even just one complimentary night.

But all those small moments that make someone want to come back.

Because ten years is a long time to show up for people.

And if Dorsett has learnt anything in those 10 years, it is that the best stays are the ones that give people something to remember.

Perfect 10 runs from 15 to 24 October 2026 across Dorsett Hotels in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, the UK and Australia. – NMH

The post Dorsett Hotels Marks 10 Years With ‘Perfect 10’ Celebration first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tahanan rumah merupakan satu mekanisme berbeza dalam sistem hukuman yang membolehkan seseorang banduan menjalani hukuman di luar penjara, tertakluk kepada syarat yang ditetapkan, kata peguam Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Beliau berkata tahanan rumah tidak sama dengan remisi atau parol, yang mempunyai mekanisme dan proses tersendiri.

Pengampunan diraja, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada kuasa prerogatif Yang di-Pertuan Agong di bawah Perkara 42 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, turut mendapat perhatian meluas bukan sahaja di dalam negara tetapi juga di peringkat antarabangsa.

Pelbagai persoalan dan spekulasi mengenai pelaksanaan pengampunan bersyarat serta tahanan rumah Najib turut muncul sejak pengumuman dibuat pada 18 September lalu. Shafee sendiri berkata beliau dihujani pertanyaan dan memilih untuk tidak membuat spekulasi kerana masih terdapat perkara yang belum diperjelaskan secara rasmi.

Justeru, sidang media itu memberi ruang kepada Shafee untuk menjelaskan beberapa perkara yang menurutnya telah menimbulkan kekeliruan, termasuk perbezaan antara tahanan rumah, remisi dan parol serta kedudukan syarat yang dikenakan di bawah pengampunan tersebut.

Rekod “Exemplary” Sepanjang Berada Dalam Tahanan

Shafee turut menjelaskan bahawa apabila sesuatu cadangan berkaitan pengampunan atau pengurangan hukuman dikemukakan, antara perkara yang akan dinilai ialah laporan mengenai kelakuan dan aktiviti seseorang banduan sepanjang berada dalam tahanan.

Dalam kes Najib, Shafee berkata laporan mengenai kelakuan dan aktiviti beliau sepanjang berada di penjara adalah “exemplary”.

Penilaian itu menarik perhatian kerana kehidupan dalam tahanan boleh memberikan tekanan dan cabaran yang besar kepada seseorang individu, termasuk dari segi disiplin, emosi dan penyesuaian diri.

Dalam kes Najib, menurut Shafee, rekod yang dilaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa kekal “exemplary”.

Bagi mereka yang telah mengikuti perjalanan Najib sejak beliau berada dalam politik dan perkhidmatan awam — daripada ahli politik, menteri dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri hingga Perdana Menteri — perkara itu juga boleh dilihat sebagai kesinambungan disiplin, perwatakan dan etika kerja yang sama ketika beliau berdepan keadaan yang jauh berbeza di dalam penjara.

Tahanan Rumah Bukan Untuk VIP

Shafee turut menolak tanggapan bahawa tahanan rumah merupakan satu bentuk keistimewaan yang hanya diberikan kepada VIP atau bekas pemimpin.

Menurutnya, tahanan rumah boleh dilaksanakan dalam keadaan tertentu selagi seseorang itu masih berstatus banduan dan tertakluk kepada hukuman.

Beliau berkata persoalan yang lebih penting ialah rasional di sebalik tahanan rumah, bukan siapa yang diberikan kemudahan tersebut.

Menurut Shafee, antara tujuan tahanan rumah ialah membantu seseorang banduan menyesuaikan diri semula dengan struktur sosial dan kehidupan bermasyarakat selepas berada dalam penjara untuk tempoh yang panjang.

Beliau memberi contoh seseorang yang menjalani hukuman selama bertahun-tahun mungkin menjadi semakin terpisah daripada kehidupan dan masyarakat di luar.

Tahanan rumah, katanya, boleh memberi ruang kepada seseorang banduan untuk menyesuaikan diri semula secara berperingkat sebelum kembali menjalani kehidupan dalam masyarakat.

Shafee menegaskan bahawa rasional tersebut bukan khusus untuk Najib atau mana-mana golongan tertentu, sebaliknya boleh terpakai kepada banduan secara umum.

Apa Berlaku Selepas RM50 Juta Dibayar?

Mengenai syarat pembayaran RM50 juta, Shafee berkata beliau tidak dapat memastikan sama ada pembayaran tersebut akan membawa kepada pembebasan Najib ke tahanan rumah pada hari yang sama.

Beliau berkata terdapat kemungkinan timbul persoalan atau cabaran undang-undang lain, dan kerana itu beliau tidak mahu membuat sebarang ramalan mengenai apa yang akan berlaku pada hari pembayaran dibuat.

“Saya tidak tahu,” katanya ketika ditanya mengenai perkara tersebut.

Mengapa Tahanan Rumah Tidak Berlaku Lebih Awal?

Shafee turut ditanya mengapa tahanan rumah tidak dilaksanakan lebih awal, memandangkan terdapat perintah berkaitan tahanan rumah yang dikaitkan dengan Yang di-Pertuan Agong terdahulu.

Menurut Shafee, perintah tersebut sebelum ini tidak diiktiraf.

Beliau menyifatkan keadaan itu sebagai “travesty of justice”.

Katanya, Yang di-Pertuan Agong sekarang telah mempertimbangkan semula perkara berkenaan dan memberikan tahanan rumah, dengan syarat bayaran yang ditetapkan dipenuhi.

Kuasa Pengampunan Terletak Pada Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Shafee turut menyentuh mengenai kekeliruan berhubung keperluan mendapatkan perintah mahkamah bagi melaksanakan keputusan berkaitan pengampunan.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa mahkamah tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk memberikan pengampunan.

Menurutnya, kuasa tersebut terletak pada Yang di-Pertuan Agong, dan dokumen rasmi berkaitan keputusan itu perlu datang daripada pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan.

Shafee berkata beliau telah membuat pertanyaan rasmi mengenai dokumen berkenaan.

Bagaimanapun, beliau menegaskan bahawa sebarang kelewatan dalam pelaksanaan tidak seharusnya secara automatik dikaitkan dengan Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Jangan salahkan Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” katanya, sambil menjelaskan bahawa proses melaksanakan sesuatu keputusan merupakan perkara berbeza daripada pihak yang mempunyai kuasa untuk membuat keputusan tersebut.

Perkembangan Rayuan Kes 1MDB

Sidang media Shafee itu turut berlangsung selepas pengurusan kes permohonan Najib untuk menangguhkan pelaksanaan hukuman dalam kes 1MDB di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada Khamis, dengan mahkamah menetapkan 14 Oktober untuk mendengar permohonan berkenaan.

Perkembangan itu menjadi antara perkara yang disentuh Shafee ketika bertemu media selepas prosiding tersebut, selain menjelaskan kedudukan tahanan rumah dan perkara berkaitan pengampunan bersyarat Najib.

Menunggu Kepastian

Bagi Najib dan keluarganya, setiap perkembangan ini bukan sekadar proses undang-undang yang perlu dilalui, tetapi turut menentukan bila beliau boleh kembali bersama keluarga dan menjalani baki hukumannya di rumah.

Semakin lama proses itu mengambil masa, semakin panjang juga tempoh penantian dan perpisahan yang perlu dilalui.

Buat masa ini, beberapa perkara masih menunggu keputusan dan pelaksanaan, termasuk permohonan penangguhan hukuman kes 1MDB, pembayaran RM50 juta serta proses rasmi berkaitan tahanan rumah.

Bagi seorang banduan dan keluarganya, setiap hari yang berlalu sementara menunggu kepastian mempunyai makna yang tersendiri. – NMH

The post Tahanan Rumah: Shafee Jelaskan Perbezaannya Dengan Remisi, Parol first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 September 2026 — Moneywave is entering a new phase of growth, combining more than three decades of experience in money services with a physical-and-digital model designed around how people and businesses move money today.

Operating since 1994, Moneywave has moved its headquarters from Pandan Indah to Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, where its new flagship brings currency exchange, international remittance and business payment solutions under one roof.

The company currently operates five outlets across West and East Malaysia, with remittance services covering more than 60 currencies.

The New Phygital

Moneywave’s new proposition, described as “phygital”, is built around giving customers flexibility between physical and digital channels.

Customers will be able to start their journey on their phone and complete it at an outlet, or begin at an outlet and continue digitally.

One planned capability will allow customers to lock an FX rate on their phone and collect later at the counter.

The company’s mobile app is scheduled to launch in Q4 2026.

Moneywave CEO Aiman Kallahan said the company’s approach was shaped by more than 30 years of understanding customers’ money-moving needs.

“We spent thirty years learning what people need when they move money. Wisma MCA is where we build the outlet around that, instead of asking customers to fit the counter.”

The company believes digital convenience and face-to-face accessibility can work together, particularly for customers such as foreign workers sending money home, families supporting relatives overseas, students, travellers and small businesses making cross-border payments.

From Heritage to the Future

The new flagship also reflects Moneywave’s long history.

A collection of rare international banknotes from one founder’s personal collection, accumulated over more than 30 years, is displayed at the premises.

What began as an interest connected to his work eventually became a lifelong hobby, offering a glimpse into how money itself has evolved over the decades.

Moneywave sees the Wisma MCA flagship as a blueprint for future outlets, combining physical accessibility with its expanding digital capabilities.

Regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia, the company says its broader vision is to make “Sending Money Like a Message” a daily reality for customers.

With its flagship now open and the mobile app planned for Q4, Moneywave is positioning its next chapter around a simple proposition: digital when convenient, physical when needed. – NMH

The post Moneywave’s Next Chapter: Where Physical Meets Digital first appeared on NMH.