Each year, Star Golden Hearts Award honours ten deserving Malaysian unsung heroes. Here is a list of winners since the Award’s inception in 2015.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2023 Winner)

Provides care and rehabilitation to rescued sun bears while increasing public awareness about the endangered species.

The MareCet Research Organisation

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2023 Winner)

Advocates conservation efforts and research on marine mammals through extensive education and volunteering programmes.

Lang Tengah Turtle Watch

Safeguards sea turtles from extinction through vigilant protection and community involvement.

Starfish Malaysia Foundation

Uplifts the marginalised communities in Sabah and Sarawak from poverty through education and agriculture programmes.

PACOS Trust

Champions the rights and empowerment of indigenous communities through diverse programmes.

The Asli Co.

Empowers indigenous mothers with the ability to generate income from their home-based modern handicraft production, in supporting their children’s education.

Kelab Alami

Empowers a community to participate in and benefit from development through citizen science, alternative incomes and the protection of their natural environments.

Buku Jalanan Chow Kit

Creates a safe learning environment opportunity for at-risk children in the Jalan Chow Kit area, by improving their life skills through education.

Japson Wong

Marine biologist turned artist who upcycle waste materials into imaginative art and sculptures while championing environmental awareness.

Graze Market

Combats food waste through food surplus initiatives while making affordable food accessible to all.

Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2022 winner)

Education (Organisation)

Builds young leaders amongst stateless children through holistic education and skills development to find solutions to issues faced by their communities in Pulau Omadal.

Serena Zara Taufiq

Individual

A teenager championing autism through awareness building, fundraising and empowering adolescents with autism with skills development and job opportunities.

Mariani 'Bam' Ramli

Individual

Dedicates her life to run sanctuaries to rescue, rehabilitate and release endangered gibbons.

Edwin Nathaniel

Individual

Brings about therapeutic benefits to neurodivergent children through the use of percussion instruments and music.

Native Discovery

Community Empowerment (Organisation)

Supports the livelihoods of Orang Asli communities by co-creating meaningful community-based ventures and sale of local products, while revitalising indigenous cultures.

TONIBUNG

Community Empowerment (Organisation)

Empowers off-grid indigenous communities to install and manage their own micro-hydroelectric dams to improve their quality of life.

Dignity For Children Foundation

Education (Organisation)

Provides holistic care, transformative education and entrepreneurial opportunities for marginalised children to help them become productive members of society.

SEAD Industries

Environment and Wildlife (Organisation)

Champions bamboo as a sustainable solution for restoration of degraded land and preservation of the environment, while working hand-in-hand with rural communities.

Explore Gaia

Environment and Wildlife (Organisation)

Conserves and saves Malaysia’s iconic hornbills through science, innovation, engagement and creativity.

DRsforALL

Social Welfare (Organisation)

A group of doctors empowering the Orang Asli to be self-reliant for their communities’ medical needs through a combination of basic medical training and telemedicine.

Suriana Welfare Society

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2021 winner)

Protects the rights of children and single mothers through various educational and upskilling programmes

Crisis Relief Services & Training (CREST)

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2021 winner)

Offers humanitarian assistance to needy communities affected by disasters and crises, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic

Helping Hands Penan

Helps Penan womenfolk market their woven crafts to better their livelihoods and safeguards rural children’s education

WormingUp

Supports rural farmers in sustainable farming and advocates effective organic waste management through insect farming and other upcycling initiatives

Sunny Shalesh

Empowers people with disabilities through participation in football and other sports as a social development tool

BeliGas Malaysia

Empowers B40 Malaysians and ex-convicts by providing employment in the delivery service of affordable LPG gas cylinders

Shalan bin Jum’at

Improves the livelihoods of fellow fishermen through a fair trade approach and various empowerment initiatives

Abdul Muiz Hussin

Equips children from a Malay fishing village with Mandarin language capabilities to help boost their livelihoods

MYReaders

Empowers children to learn to read English through effective remedial literacy programmes

Faiz Shakri

Faiz Shakri

Goes above and beyond as a school teacher to make education a fun and interesting experience for Orang Asli students through experiential learning

Seven Tea One

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2020 winner)

Empowers differently-abled teens to earn dignified income through meaningful job placements and skills development

PWD Smart FarmAbility

(Gamuda Inspiration Award 2020 winner)

Advocates environmental health and food security through ethical farming and making nutritious organic food accessible to people of all economic background

Muhammad Nazmi Rosli

Ensures rural school children are not left behind in the pursuit of quality education

IMAM Response & Relief Team - IMARET

Eases the burdens of communities affected by disasters and crises through the provision of humanitarian and medical aid

Sangga Sinnayah

Educates school children through holistic learning and integrates sustainable development goals as part of the education experience

Kennedy Michael

Champions river conservation, protection and rehabilitation as a shared responsibility through effective community engagement and empowerment

Bengkel Teknologi Senior

Promotes digital inclusion among senior citizens through digital literacy workshops which help them live more independently

Langur Project Penang (LPP)

Promotes the coexistence between wildlife and humans through research, conservation and environmental education

Great Heart Charity Association

Connects beneficiaries, volunteers and donors with the aim of making charitable giving a part of everyone’s life

Fuze Ecoteer Outdoor Adventures

Instills greater appreciation and respect for nature and promotes environmental protection through ecotourism and community programmes

Sujana Mohd Rejab

(Star-Gamuda Inspiration Award 2019 Winner)

For enabling physically impaired individuals to have equal privileges and access to a quality life with dignity

Dr Tan Ching Seong

For promoting the adoption of an eco-friendly lifestyle with an innovative rewards-based recycling initiatives

Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia (ECOMY)

For championing sustainable ecotourism and promoting greater understanding and appreciation for nature, local society, and culture

Hopes Malaysia

For helping rural communities restore access to clean water supply and introduce sustainable agricultural programmes with villagers

Langit Collective

For improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural communities by promoting their unique and heirloom agricultural produce to larger markets

Mohd Faisal Abdu’r-Rani

For championing environmental sustainability by promoting a zero-waste lifestyle, regular city clean-ups, and adoption of the eco-bricks movement

Samuel Isaiah

For going above and beyond as a school teacher to make education an effective and fun learning experience for Orang Asli students

Stevens Chan Kum Fai

For empowering people with visual impairments through meaningful job placements and raising awareness to facilitate social inclusion of the marginalised

Yunizam Yusop

For his selfless service in providing free funeral and hospital transportation services for the marginalised community in Sandakan

Zulkernai Fauzi

For ensuring vulnerable children in Chow Kit receive proper education for a better future

UmieAktif

(Star-Gamuda Inspiration Award Winner)

Empowers underprivileged mothers in Chow Kit through sewing and crafting skills

Dentistry for the Needy

Provides free dental treatment for Orang Asli and the homeless

Suri Inspirasi

Empowers single mothers by providing training in sewing and upcycling denim

Suka Society

Provides English language training for Orang Asli teachers in villages

Friends of Bukit Gasing

Conserves Bukit Gasing forest through community activities

Masala Wheels

Empowers at-risk youth through food and beverage entrepreneurial initiatives

Efinity Social Enterprise

Provides marginalised communities access to clean drinking water using a self-invented water filter

Cancerfly Networks

Provides employment and business opportunities for cancer survivors

The Tuyang Initiative

Works with Dayak communities in Sarawak to promote cultural-heritage

Sia Siew Chin

Empowers the disabled community to help them live independently

Barefoot Mercy

(Star-Gamuda Inspiration Award Winner)

Brings light and builds schools in rural Sarawak

Kon Onn Sein

Set up an organic farm to generate income for the Orang Asli

Tan Yee Mei (Jazz)

Founder of YouthsToday.com, an online engagement platform for youth

Kuan Chee Heng

The “10 sen man” who helps the poor through various initiatives

Sashitharaan A/L Maraighanasambanthan

Provides free shuttle service to senior citizens

Isak Ngau

Organises skills training for blind masseurs

Ghanasuntharavalli Sathasivam

Retired nurse providing free foot care services to diabetic patients

SWEPA Barefoot Solar Project

Empowers illiterate grandmothers from remote Sabah through solar training programmes

Anja Juliah Abu Bakar

Provides menstrual hygiene education and washable sanitary pads to Orang Asli girls

Oon Thoo Seen

Saved an injured woman from her mangled car before it went up in flames

Dr Rusaslina Binti Idrus

(Star-Gamuda Inspiration Award Winner)

Set up ‘Kedai Jalanan’, a pop-up store to clothe the homeless with dignity

Tan Chin Leong

Tow truck driver who saves lives on the Penang bridge

Saari Mohd Nor & Low Kock Seong

Fishermen who rescued survivors from a plane crash

Mohd Yusuf Bin Rohani

Cares for a friend who is a double amputee

Late Rishiwant Singh Randhawa

An active humanitarian who helps those in need

Khairuddin Bin Abd Aziz

Rockstar who combats drug abuse through music

Jerryson Abraham Gnanaraj Doss & Edna Sung Burongoh

Founded the ‘Viva Starfish Project’ for recruitment of the homeless

Shalini Yeap May Hwa & Alfred Samuel A/L Mariyaras

Founders of Teddy Mobile Clinic to provide medical checkups for the homeless

Kong Lan Lee

Works with special needs children

Marie Christine Robert

Donated part of her liver to her teacher

Shirin Aziha Shahidan

Helped and cared for an elderly man with elephantiasis

Mount Kinabalu Guides Association

Rescued stranded climbers during the Sabah earthquake

R. Rajagopal

Gave up a room in his house for a homeless friend for more than ten years

Shirley Lee, Farhana Mohd Fadzli, Wee Tai May & Wong Hui Yu

Teenagers who helped a woman deliver her baby outside a shopping mall

Abdul Muhsi Ramlan

Saved the life of a road accident victim

Dr S. Madhusudhan

Provides free medical services to the urban poor

Alina Amir, David Chak, Felicia Yoon & Daniel Russel

Founded Arus Academy to teach coding and programming to teenagers

Siti Zabedah Kasim

Lawyer and activist who champions Orang Asli rights

Mastura M. Rashid

Helps alleviate poverty through her ‘Nasi Lemak Project’ initiative

Ahamad Emran, Fadly Daud, Hafiz Kamal, Hayati Ismail, Sarah Lee, Syarifah Athirah Al Tirmidhi & Syed Azmi Alhabshi

Offer free items to the needy through their ‘Freemarket’ initiative