Across Malaysia, there are everyday heroes quietly rewriting the future of their communities from lush rainforests to kampung shores, and deep within urban centres. These changemakers aren’t waiting for permission to make a difference – they are already doing the work, often unseen and under-resourced.
The Gamuda Inspiration Award (GIA) shines a spotlight on these unsung champions. Launched by Yayasan Gamuda, GIA is more than an award – it’s a movement to recognise and empower Malaysians who are creating scalable, lasting impact through bold initiatives in the areas of (1) Environment and wildlife, (2) Community development, and (3) Arts, innovation and well-being.
Each year, recipients of the Gamuda Inspiration Award receive RM300,000 in funding alongside the visibility, credibility and encouragement to go even further in their mission.
In 2024, three organisations – Kelab Alami, Langur Project Penang, and Canvas Art Creative, emerged as torchbearers of change. Their stories remind us of the power of vision, resilience, and community-rooted action.
How Kelab Alami is Recasting the Future for a Fishing Village in Johor
In a quiet corner of Mukim Tanjung Kupang, Johor, a grassroots movement is transforming a fishing village’s narrative from dwindling catches and lost traditions to community-powered resilience and renewed pride. At the heart of this transformation is Kelab Alami, a local organisation founded by Shalan Jum’at, a fisherman’s son turned changemaker, who saw not just the tide turning in the sea, but in his community too.
I come from a family of fishermen. When I was young, my father would never let us eat the big prawns. He’d say they didn’t taste nice, but I later realised it was because he needed to sell them for income. And yet, after all that struggle, the middleman still took most of the money. – Shalan Jum’at
This early experience planted a lifelong mission in Shalan: to ensure fishermen are fairly compensated and respected for their deep, often overlooked expertise. What began in 2008 as a youth environmental education initiative grew into a multifaceted community development platform training young ecotourism guides, hosting habitat education camps, and later evolving into Pasar Pendekar Laut, a direct fish-to-consumer model empowering local fishermen.
Our youth were once guiding tourists, doing research, attending conferences, and sharing stories about our habitats. They made the kampung proud. But after Covid, many moved on with life – and that’s okay. That’s when we knew it was time to focus on the fishermen. – Shalan Jum’at
The shift in focus birthed new ideas, including the construction of rakit (fishing platforms) and a warung that became the heart of the community’s economy and culture. The rakit offered more than just a place to fish; it became a symbol of ownership and unity, entirely community-built from recycled materials and salvaged wood.
The first rakit was built from our savings and hard work. When we got the Gamuda Inspiration Award, we were able to expand — add a deck to the warung, build more rakits, and support our fishermen with steady income. Now, they feel a sense of ownership. It’s theirs. – Shalan Jum’at
The support from the Gamuda Inspiration Award was a game-changer, not just financially, but of morale support.
Today, Kelab Alami and its offshoots have created a living, breathing ecosystem of education, ecotourism, and economic empowerment. Fishermen are no longer isolated workers on the margins – they are co-owners of platforms, hosts of cultural events, and guardians of the sea.
Langur Project Penang and the Movement to Reconnect Nature and People
In northern Penang, where highways slice through forest canopies and monkey calls compete with the roar of traffic, a quiet movement is reshaping how Malaysians see and share with their wild neighbours.
Leading this charge is Dr. Yap Jo Leen, founder of Langur Project Penang (LPP), a grassroots conservation effort making human-wildlife coexistence not just possible, but practical.
My primary motivation stems from a deep passion and commitment to fostering coexistence between humans and urban wildlife in Malaysia, starting with the primate species around us. – Dr. Yap Jo Leen
LPP’s beginnings weren’t in labs but among treetops and rooftops, where Dr. Yap spent hours observing urban monkeys and imagining a different future.
Started with a pair of binoculars and spent long hours observing the dusky langurs and long-tailed macaques. These experiences marked the beginning of it all – fostering curiosity, understanding, and appreciation for our wildlife neighbours. – Dr. Yap Jo Leen
In 2022, LPP constructed Malaysia’s first two canopy road bridges – lifelines for arboreal wildlife facing roadkill and shrinking habitats.
The first, Ah Lai’s Crossing in Teluk Bahang, broke new ground. With no prior blueprint, the team navigated policy roadblocks and stakeholder challenges to build a bridge now used by at least eight species, from dusky langurs to slow lorises.
Roads are meant for connection, not separation. – Dr. Yap Jo Leen
That success led to Numi’s Crossing in Tanjung Bungah, shaped by ecological data and community input. Just six days after installation, langurs once divided by a dangerous road were seen confidently using the bridge.
It wasn’t just the monkeys crossing a gap – hearts and mindsets were shifting, too.
Numi’s Crossing isn’t just a bridge over a road… it’s a strong symbol of hope and peace for people and dusky langurs living together. A wonderful way to teach others about the importance of respect and appreciating nature in cities. – Dr. Yap Jo Leen
This growing momentum was supercharged by the Gamuda Inspiration Award, which gave LPP the credibility and resources to do more.
The Gamuda Inspiration Award was a catalyst, enabling LPP to translate our research and educational work into broader action and build more sustainable and long-lasting strategies for human-wildlife coexistence in Malaysia, starting with our primate neighbours. – Dr. Yap Jo Leen
With more bridges on the horizon, rising youth engagement, and collaborations multiplying, LPP is no longer just a project, it’s a movement.
Canvas Art Creative Is Giving Voice To Malaysia’s Forgotten Tribes
Faye Lim, the Managing Director of Canvas Art Creative, is on a mission that goes beyond restoring photographs. Through her vision and leadership, Faye is transforming a 20-year-old business founded by her late parents of restoring old photographs, to expand their focus to spotlight the lesser-known ethnic groups and cultures in Malaysia.
It’s not just about restoring photographs or documenting culture—it’s about honouring people and their legacies, cherishing our roots, and helping others see the beauty in their own stories before they disappear. – Faye Lim
Faye’s journey is deeply personal. Inspired by her late parents’ legacy and love for excellence, she chose to carry their baton forward.
Her encounter with the Ukit/Bhuket people of Sarawak was a turning point. What started as a visit during an art camp turned into a transformative cultural movement. With care and collaboration, Canvas Art Creative amplified the voices of this small community, bringing their stories and traditions to national attention.
In 2023, we held an exhibition at GMBB on Malaysia Day. For the first time in history, 12 representatives from the Ukit/Bhuket community came to Kuala Lumpur. The media covered it. Malaysians began to see them, not as part of a vague ‘Borneo’ identity, but as a distinct, humble people. – Faye Lim
This collaboration marked a historic moment. The Ukit/Bhuket community was no longer classified as ‘dan lain-lain’ in official records. They were finally recognised by name.
Faye and her team didn’t stop there. In 2024, they launched a youth weaving revival programme to preserve the community’s cultural knowledge. Young girls, previously disengaged from traditional practices, began learning and innovating. From earrings to headpieces, their creations sparked a new wave of cultural pride.
We witnessed the older and younger generations bridging their gap, learning from one another again. That is the seed of revival. That is the power of creativity. – Faye Lim
The Ukit/Bhuket community’s creation of the rattan wall in their village has earned national recognition, securing a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) under the category of ‘Longest Decorated ‘Teteng Wei’ (Rattan Wall)’, measuring 185.4 meters, in Uma Ukit, Sungai Asap, Belaga, Sarawak.
We believe that this collaboration, combining their own efforts with the platform provided in Kuala Lumpur, played a vital role in highlighting their identity, allowing them to be seen for who they truly are, rather than being grouped under the label of ‘dan lain-lain’. – Faye Lim
Faye also credits the Gamuda Inspiration Award as a pivotal force in her journey.
It gave our work visibility, credibility, and the confidence to keep going. More than recognition, it opened doors, helping us build trust with rural communities and access support that was once out of reach. – Faye Lim
Today, Faye is travelling across Sarawak, working to document 15 Orang Ulu ethnic groups through the Rediscovering Each Other project. With each journey, she’s restoring more than photographs – restoring dignity, identity, and connection.
In preserving the past (and present), I believe we deepen our appreciation of where we come from, strengthen our connections, and find direction in shaping a better future for all Malaysians. – Faye Lim
Through her art and unwavering heart, Faye Lim reminds us: everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Calling All Changemakers! It’s Your Turn to Inspire Malaysia
Whether you’re restoring ecosystems, improving livelihoods in marginalised communities, preserving cultural heritage, developing technology for social good, or promoting healthcare access, your initiative could be the next to receive this game-changing support.
For 2025, Yayasan Gamuda is once again seeking extraordinary changemakers in three focus categories: Environment & Wildlife, Community Development, and Arts, Innovation & Well-Being.
The award structure offers multiple paths to support. The flagship Gamuda Inspiration Award provides RM300,000 to one recipient in each category, recognising organisations with significant impact and scalable solutions.
The Gamuda Empowerment Award offers RM50,000 to two recipients per category, supporting organisations with remarkable potential to amplify their impact. Additionally, the Gamuda Impact Fund consists of a RM500,000 pool supporting innovative, project-based initiatives across all causes, with an unlimited number of potential recipients within this funding cap.
Join the growing movement of Malaysian changemakers creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future for all.
Apply now: https://gamuda.com/yayasan-gamuda/gia/
