Muis Awards 2024: Suhaimi Salleh, A Beacon of Transformative Leadership in Singapore’s Community
Written in collaboration with Muslim.Sg.
Anugerah Jasa Cemerlang (AJC) Recognition
Illuminating the extraordinary contributions of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of Singapore’s Muslim community and a beacon that lights the way for future generations, the Muis Awards 2024’s Anugerah Jasa Cemerlang (AJC) represents the highest honour awarded for these remarkable individuals. It recognises their profound contributions in areas such as Islamic education, religious guidance, sector development, and community service and engagement.
Recently honoured with this recognition at the International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS) 2024 is Mr. Suhaimi Salleh, for his unwavering commitment to serving and developing the Muslim community in Singapore.
Mr. Suhaimi Salleh (second from right) received the Muis Awards’ Anugerah Jasa Cemerlang from President of Singapore, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Muis’ Senior Management.
Matching the theme for ICCOS 2024, “Inspiring Future Leaders, Building Trust, Empowering Communities”, Mr. Suhaimi Salleh represents an outstanding embodiment of the values this honour represents. From developing the Muslim community in the educational and professional fronts to transforming the financial and business landscapes in Singapore, his story serves as a powerful reminder that true greatness lies not in personal gain but in the positive change we bring to the lives of others.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
Among his vast contributions, Suhaimi Salleh’s key impact resides in his more than 30 years of service, including 10 years as President at LBKM (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Memorial Scholarship Fund Board or Lembaga Biasiswa Kenangan Maulud). LBKM is a local bursary institution that has grown into a pillar of the Malay/Muslim community in supporting students’ education in secular and religious tracks.
One of the resonant bursary policy changes he enacted was to award more than one bursary per household. This would mean that in the long term, more students can be rendered financial support for their educational journey. He firmly believes that education serves as a social leveller. He added, “It is vital to encourage and support them in achieving their educational aspiration.”
Today, LBKM has more than 35,700 beneficiaries from primary to postgraduate levels, with the cumulative awarded bursaries, scholarships and grants amounting to over S$31 million.
LBKM recently awarded 40 scholarships of various categories across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Image source: LBKM Facebook
In recognition of Mr. Suhaimi’s profound service in LBKM, he was awarded The Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat, PBM) in 2023 as the Immediate Past President.
His legacy in LBKM continues in other ways. By encouraging the organisation to adopt and comply with the Charity Accounting System (CAS) in its procedures, it has elevated LBKM as an exemplary Institution of Public Character, building trust by the community in the work that is done. His leadership also played a pivotal role in LBKM receiving the Singapore Quality Class, further underscoring the organisation's commitment to excellence.
Another transformation that Encik Suhaimi has pushed for is in leadership succession. He acknowledges the late Syed Ali Redha Alsagoff (LBKM’s first President), and Wan Hussin Zoohri (LBKM’s second President) whose visionary approaches and inspiring leadership spurred him to nurture young leaders within LBKM through mentorship programmes and leadership development initiatives. After stepping down as President of LBKM in 2022, he has facilitated a seamless transition of leadership today to the 37-year-old, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi. Today, more than half of the LBKM’s board members are below the age of 40.
Thriving in Volunteerism and Serving the Community
Mr. Suhaimi’s commitment to serving the community is not only confined to his service in LBKM. Beyond his day job as a CEO of SSA Group, a company providing professional services for management, training, governance audit and estate planning, he also served in various local Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) such as Yayasan Mendaki, Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI).
In doing good for the community, there are also significant struggles that he has faced but he overcame them with trust and support from his team, ensuring that the positive impact can still be felt in the community today.
For instance during his teenage days, he witnessed the educational struggles of youth in his kampung (village). This fuelled his determination to uplift the community, particularly in education. In 1977, he set up a youth committee upon graduation to assist others while also organising leadership training programs to serve the community. One of the initial challenges then he cited was the lack of youth participation in leadership roles within the community. He always held the belief to see the community thrive amidst adversities.
Today, we have witnessed more youth stepping up to the mantle and showing their willingness to lead the community in their own unique ways, such as Muslim.Sg’s feature on Muis Awards 2024’s Anugerah Belia Harapan recipients.
Fostering Community Cohesion Through Financial Empowerment
Beyond the social impact of his leadership, Mr. Suhaimi has also made an impact on the financial and business sectors in Singapore. In various conferences and panel discussions, he has shared his many years of expertise to guide further development. He is currently serving as Vice-Chairman for the Muslim Financial Planning Association since 2013, and as an Audit Committee Chairman in SG Enable since 2014, an agency that provides equitable opportunities for persons with disabilities through grants, employment and community integration. He has also sat on other boards, notably in the Charity Council and National Council of Social Service (NCSS), underscoring his commitment to fostering inclusive growth and empowerment.
During his service in SMCCI, Mr. Suhaimi was awarded the Business Community Leadership Entrepreneur Award for his community leadership in developing the Malay/Muslim business community. He also received similar accolades such as the SME Partner Award in 2001 for his outstanding contributions to small and medium enterprises in Singapore, and the Berita Harian’s Business Achiever Award in 2017 (Anugerah Jauhari Perniagaan) for his business successes and leadership.
Conclusion
Mr. Suhaimi’s empathetic leadership style and service to multiple layers of society, ranging from students, business owners, professionals and persons with disabilities, reinforces an impact that transcends generations. Through his many years of service, the importance of understanding and connecting with those we serve is emphasised.
The Muis Awards’ Anugerah Jasa Cemerlang recognition not only celebrates his achievements thus far, but it also presents a beacon to light the way forward and inspire other community leaders. It reminds us that transformative leadership steeped in empathy and driven by collective progress can create ripples of positive change for Singapore’s community in years to come. Mr. Suhaimi’s legacy serves as an inspiration for all of us – and a challenge to strive for excellence (ihsan) in service of our community.
To young individuals aspiring to make a difference, his advice is to stay true to your vision and cultivate a spirit of collaboration. He adds, “Listen to your community’s needs, remain open to learning from others and recognise that even small actions can lead to significant change. With dedication and compassion, you can inspire those around you and create a lasting impact.”
Articles on Muslim.Sg may be reproduced electronically or in print with prior permission from Muslim.Sg. Proper credit must be given to the author(s) and Muslim.Sg.
