SINGAPORE - Mr Fairoz Hassan joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to support his university education, but over the course of nearly three decades found a career that gave him purpose.

Duty has called on him to serve as a United Nations liaison officer in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh, and also to coordinate multi-nation relief efforts in Nepal after an earthquake there in 2015. The 46-year-old has also managed operations and overseen security in multiple National Day Parades.

In July, the Commander of the 9th Singapore Division and Chief Infantry Officer became only the second Malay/Muslim officer to attain the rank of Brigadier General in the SAF.

For his distinguished military career, BG Fairoz received the Berita Harian Achiever of the Year 2025 award from Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing at a Nov 7 ceremony at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.

Now in its 27th year, the award – organised by the Malay-language daily and supported by OCBC as its presenting sponsor – recognises Malay-Muslims who have made a mark in their fields.

BG Fairoz dedicated the award to the “village” of family, friends and colleagues who helped him to become who he is today, noting that his military career instilled in him strong values.

BH editor Nazry Mokhtar, who co-chaired the judging panel for the awards, said BG Fairoz represented “the pinnacle of service and leadership within the community”.

“His achievements in national defence, coupled with his commitment to humanitarian missions, embody the values that the Berita Harian Achiever of the Year seeks to champion,” he said.

Clinching the Young Achiever of the Year Award was writer Nur Aisyah Lyana Mohamed Satria.

The 28-year-old, whose childhood was marked by financial difficulties, said her greatest challenge was in the final year of her studies at the National University of Singapore in 2021 when her mother – noted author and secondary school teacher Noor Hasnah Adam – was found to have a brain tumour.

Ms Hasnah died of cancer in 2023.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic Ms Aisyah recalled having to juggle visits to the hospital and caring for her mother with studying and working part-time to support her three younger siblings.

Despite the challenges, she graduate with Honours (Highest Distinction) in Global Studies and Malay Studies, and earned a spot on the Dean’s List. Over the years she has earned numerous accolades – including first prize in the National Poetry Competition in 2020 and 2024.

Ms Aisyah however felt that her greatest achievement has been in nurturing a community of young writers.

In 2024 she co-founded Meja Conteng (Scribble Table), a collective for young Malay writers which now includes 18 writers and has published several zines.

“To have a community where you can exchange ideas and build upon each other, I think that is something that’s very meaningful,” said Ms Aisyah, who is now pursuing a dual Masters in Technology and Global Affairs.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr Chan said the Malay/Muslim community can be very proud of its progress over the years, but like any other community in Singapore it will want to do better. He listed “three simple wishes” for the community going forward.

He said the community will have succeeded by its own standards if, in the next 10 or 20 years time, it is proud of its own progress, self-assured in its diverse accomplishments, and confident of its unique Singapore Malay/Muslim identity.

Another marker of success is if it is a community that blends the best of Singapore values - such as meritocracy, fairness and openness - with its own diverse and rich heritage.

Thirdly, the community would have succeeded if it has strong bonds and is firmly rooted, and yet is comfortable with society’s diversity and open to the world, he added.

Mr Chan said a unique aspect of the larger Singaporean identity, which is also part of the heritage from the Malay/Muslim community, is the belief in not keeping everything for this generation, but to give the best to the next generation.

Singaporeans must also seek to understand the strengths of each other, so that each can be supported to best contribute to society.

“We should not chase optical equality or tokenism, if that means violating the shared principle of merit,” he added.

“This is how we have tried to blend the best of both worlds: having a set of values that we all as fellow Singaporeans share, but yet at the same time never forgetting our rich heritage from the diverse communities.”

Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues.

Samuel Devaraj is a correspondent covering political and defence issues.