Sabah-born Dr Fatimah Sabrina honoured for championing PWD empowerment

SHAH ALAM (Dec 13): Perseverance and sustained contributions in empowering the community of persons with disabilities (PWD) have earned Sabah-born Dr Hajah Fatimah Sabrina binti Mohammad the prestigious Anugerah Inspirasi Kecemerlangan OKU Nusa UiTM (AIKON) 2025 at the national level.

The award was presented on Friday in conjunction with the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) PWD Day celebration, held at AEON Hall, AEON Mall Shah Alam, in recognition of her achievements, dedication and inspirational contributions across various fields.

Organised by UiTM’s Division of PWD Services and Development, the ceremony carried the theme “An Inclusive PWD Community, the Key to Social Progress”, reflecting the university’s continued commitment to fostering inclusive and meaningful participation of the PWD community within institutions of higher learning.

The event was officiated by UiTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Ts Dr Shahrin bin Sahib @ Sahibuddin, who emphasised the importance of a comprehensive support ecosystem in producing PWD individuals who are competitive, independent and capable of contributing to national development.

Dr Fatimah Sabrina, who has been a physical PWD since 2015, is a medical doctor, civil servant and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

She is also widely recognised as an active PWD figure who has driven high-impact initiatives across sectors, including healthcare, education and policy advocacy.

Among her leadership roles, she previously served as president of the UiTM Postgraduate Association and is currently deeply involved in community health programmes, advocacy for PWD rights at the policy level, participation in national forums, as well as strategic collaborations involving government agencies, universities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

In addition, Dr Fatimah Sabrina is the president of the Alzheimer’s Association of Sabah, focusing on support for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, and the deputy chairperson of the Malaysian Professional Women Secretariat, which champions women’s leadership and social inclusivity.

Her active involvement has helped open channels for dialogue, raise public awareness and expand opportunities for participation by PWDs and other vulnerable groups in the nation’s development agenda.

Commenting on the recognition, Dr Fatimah Sabrina said she hoped the award would serve as a source of inspiration for the PWD community to continue moving forward. She stressed that every individual possesses inherent value and potential when given fair and inclusive opportunities and support.

She added that the AIKON award also reflects UiTM’s ongoing efforts to promote social inclusivity, justice and equality in education and human capital development at the national level.