FAQ | Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA)

About the awards

What is Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA)?

Star Golden Hearts Award is an annual award by The Star and Yayasan Gamuda that celebrates everyday Malaysians who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to social work and promote unity among Malaysians.

Introduced in 2015, each year we invite Malaysians to nominate exemplary individuals or organisations who are then reviewed by a panel of judges. Of the hundreds of nominations received, ten winners will be selected.

This year (2023), the accolades will be presented to ten winners who make meaningful impacts to society. Winners are also eligible to be awarded the coveted Gamuda Inspiration Award.

When does the award nomination begin?

SGHA is carried out once a year. For the 2023 award, nominations are open from 2nd June to 31st July 2023.

Nominating unsung heroes

Who is eligible to be nominated for Star
Golden Hearts Award?

Malaysian individuals and organisations who fulfill the following selection criteria are eligible for the award:

• Unsung heroes who on a personal capacity, or as an organisation (NGOs/ social enterprises/ societies), consistently carry out social efforts that leave a positive impact on Malaysians and help build bridges between different communities.
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• Efforts carried out should be innovative, with proven tangible impacts, and practise sustainability in its operations.
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• Unsung heroes who demonstrate admirable values and strong leadership in encouraging social change in communities.
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• Unsung heroes must be involved in the initiatives, including time, effort and ideas, and not just monetary contribution.
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• Unsung heroes with a social impact track record of at least 18 months prior to their nomination.

Are international organisations eligible for
the Award?

Star Golden Hearts Award is only open to Malaysian individuals and organisations (Non-Governmental Organisations and Social Enterprises) registered with Malaysian authorities. Organisations based overseas are not eligible for the Award.

Can I submit more than one nomination?

Yes of course. Feel free to submit multiple nominations for different unsung heroes, as long as they meet the selection criteria. However, it is not necessary to nominate the same nominee multiple times as only one nomination per nominee will be considered.

Can I edit my nomination after it is submitted?

Nominations cannot be amended after submission. However, you may submit additional information about the nominations to the Secretariat at starfoundation@thestar.com.my.

Can anyone submit nominations?

Yes, nomination is open to the public and anyone can nominate their unsung heroes.

Can I nominate myself or my organisation
for the Award?

Yes you can! Self-nominations are welcomed as long as the nominee meets the selection criteria.

How will the submitted details be used?

Information provided in the nomination form will be used for background research, verification and publicity purposes where relevant, solely for the Award campaign purposes. For more information on Personal Data Information, kindly read the award’s Terms & Conditions

Is there a fee associated with this program?

No, it is free to submit nominations and all winners are selected based on judges’ discretion.

How do I submit a nomination?

To submit a nomination, visit www.sgha.com.my and click “Nominate”. You will be directed to an online nomination form. Fill in the necessary details and upload supporting materials if any. Once ready, click “Submit” and you’ll see a thank you message as a confirmation that we have received your nomination. The deadline to submit nominations is 31st July, 2023.

What if I don't know my nominee's address,
email and telephone number?

We would appreciate if you could make every effort to provide as much contact information as possible. The Secretariat requires either an email address or contact number so we may contact your nominee for the next steps in the evaluation process.

What happens after my nomination is
submitted?

Submitted nominations will undergo background checking to ensure the authenticity of the submission and to acquire further information before deliberation by the panel of judges.

How will I know if my nominee is selected as
a winner?

Because of the high volume of nominations received, we are unable to respond individually to each submission. However, if your nominee is selected as a winner, we will contact you and your nominee through the contact information provided. We will also announce the winners via this website and Star Media Group’s media platforms and social channels. Be sure to follow us.

Judging and winners announcement

What kind of nominees usually win the Star
Golden Hearts Award?

Star Golden Hearts Award is awarded to individuals and organisations who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to social work and promote unity among Malaysians. The focus is on impacts and not personalities, based on original, innovative, significant and sustained contribution to the community.

Since 2015, 80 winners have received the award for their selfless and impactful social work. For a full list of past winners, please click here.

How are Star Golden Hearts Award winners
selected?

All nominations undergo a stringent selection process as outlined below:

• Where necessary, the eligible nominees will be requested to provide additional information to aid in the judging process.

• All nominations will be checked for eligibility and accuracy by the Secretariat.

• Nominees’ profiles will be presented to the judging panels for rounds of review and shortlisting.

• Through robust discussions among the judging panels, judges will deliberate the merits of shortlisted nominees.

• At the final judging, ten SGHA winners will be selected.

• From the ten winners, Yayasan Gamuda will conduct further evaluation to select the winner of the Gamuda Inspiration Award (GIA).

• SGHA and GIA winners will be announced during the awards ceremony/announcement.

When will Star Golden Hearts Award winners
be announced?

The winners will be announced and celebrated in an award ceremony in November 2023.

What will award winners be receiving?

Winners will each receive a cash award of RM15,000 on top of a trophy and certificate to further support their selfless efforts. Winners are also eligible to be awarded the coveted Gamuda Inspiration Award, with an additional grant from Yayasan Gamuda on top of their accolade as a SGHA winner.

On top of that, winners are set to receive exclusive media publicity across Star Media Group’s various media platforms to help promote their noble cause.

What do I do if I require further assistance
regarding Star Golden Hearts Award?

You can reach out to the Star Foundation team/SGHA Secretariat at +603-79671388 or starfoundation@thestar.com.my for assistance.