Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Gabriel has been chosen as one of this year recipients of the US-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) 2017 Democracy Award.

In a ceremony at Capitol Hill on June 7, Cynthia will join four other activists from Afghanistan, Angola, Guatemala and Ukraine to receive the prestigious award.

The award highlights the courageous efforts of those who battle the scourge of official corruption in their respective countries.

Cynthia said she was surprised to receive NED’s 2017 Democracy Award, as an anti-corruption campaigner in “difficult situations”.

“The Democracy Award is a tremendous boost and recognition for C4 and the Malaysian civil society’s contributions to fight corruption and build a democratic society,” she said, before leaving for the United States last night...