Following the success of the epic Malaysian historical movie Mat Kilau, the late Malay warrior, Mat Kilau is named the recipient of the Pahang Tokoh Maal Hijrah award for 2022.
The award was presented by Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to Mat Kilau’s grandson Mohd Alhamadi Abu Bakar at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah on Saturday (30 July).
According to Bernama, the award is in the form of a trophy, certificate and RM10,000 for Mat Kilau’s heir.
Also present at the ceremony were Tengku Panglima Raja Kol Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and State Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman.
Speaking to the press, Mat Kilau’s grandson, 56-year-old Mohd Alhamadi expressed his gratitude to the Pahang government for the recognition given to his grandfather.
He also hoped that this award will be a catalyst to inspire and encourage others to continue to spread the teachings of Islam.
“Mat Kilau’s struggle was based on religion… Mat Kilau, his father Tok Gajah and Datuk Bahaman stood up against the British colonialists who wanted to introduce their administration system,” he said.
Mohd Alhamadi also shared that his late grandfather Mat Kilau lived with his parents for about 30 years until his death on 16 August 1970 at the age of 104.
When asked what he intend to do with the prize, he said he will be using the money to improve the facilities at the Mat Kilau gallery in Kuantan, which he established in 2016 in collaboration with Pertubuhan Silat Tapak Setia Suic, Warisan Mat Kilau.
Mat Kilau was a native of Kampung Kedondong, Pulau Tawar in Jerantut and had a thorough command of religious knowledge as he was the student of several prominent religious figures and scholars.
Among them were Pahang’s first Mufti Uthman Senik, religious scholars Sayyid Abdul Rahman Sayyid Muhammad Al-Idrus or popularly known as Tokku Paloh and Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong.
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