FAQs - About | Merdeka Award

About

frequently asked questions

What is the aim of the Merdeka Award?
The Merdeka Award aims to promote thought leadership and innovation, foster a culture of excellence and encourage a worldview, positioning Malaysia as a dynamic and competitive 21st century global player, excelling across key sectors such as science, technology, and the arts.

Launched by PETRONAS, ExxonMobil and Shell in 2007, the Merdeka Award is an enduring contribution to the people of Malaysia, demonstrating and renewing the commitment of the oil and gas industry to the growth and development of the country.

Since 2019, the Merdeka Award will be carried out biennially to reach out to more Malaysians in our efforts to inspire excellence among Malaysians in various fields.

To date, the two founding companies, PETRONAS and Shell continue their support with MAT following the departure of ExxonMobil from the Trust in 2021.

What are some of the key programmes of the Merdeka Award?
The Merdeka Award has several key initiatives, including:

Merdeka Award

The Merdeka Award was established on 27th August 2007 to recognise and reward excellent individuals and organisations whose works and achievements have not only contributed to the nation's growth but have also inspired greatness in the people of Malaysia. It is a prestigious award that honours their outstanding effort and role in impacting the nation positively in 7 Award categories:

Outstanding Contribution to Education and Community
Outstanding Contribution to Environment and Planetary Health
Outstanding Contribution to Humanities, Arts and Sports
Outstanding Contribution to Science, Technology & Innovation
Outstanding Scholastic and Academic Achievement
Anugerah Khas Merdeka
Anugerah Harapan Merdeka

The Award aims to promote thought leadership and innovation, foster a culture of excellence, encourage a world view, thereby enhancing Malaysia's standing as a dynamic, competitive global industry leader in all key sectors from science and technology to the arts.

Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment

The Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment is designed to make it possible for qualified Malaysians, between the ages 22 -35 to engage in short-term collaborative projects/programmes at a selected, internationally-recognised host institution abroad. It is designed to help the recipient build on his or her expertise by undergoing a learning experience in an institution or organisation of international repute, and improving the recipient’s body of work and achievements.

What are the key criteria considered when selecting Merdeka Award recipients?
The Merdeka Award recognizes individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence through pioneering spirit, impactful and sustainable contributions that impact the nation positively. Recipients are expected to demonstrate leadership and credibility within their fields, showcasing significant achievements that reflect their expertise.

Who is eligible to receive the Merdeka Award?
The Merdeka Award is conferred on individuals and/or organisations – Malaysians as well as non-Malaysians – whose excellent work has made outstanding and lasting contributions to the nation and the people of Malaysia, in their respective fields. The focus is on achievements and not personalities, based on original, significant and sustained contribution to the country.

There are seven (7) Award categories:
Outstanding Contribution to Education and Community
Outstanding Contribution to Environment Planetary Health
Outstanding Contribution to Humanities, Arts and Sports
Outstanding Contribution to Science, Technology & Innovation
Outstanding Scholastic and Academic Achievement
Anugerah Khas Merdeka
Anugerah Harapan Merdeka

Each award category carries a cash award, a trophy and a certificate except for Anugerah Harapan Merdeka which will receive a cash award and a certificate. Recipients are selected from a list of nominees on a biennial basis.

When are Merdeka Award recipients announced?
The recipients are announced each alternate year, in conjunction with the Merdeka and Hari Malaysia celebrations.The award presentation is made by the Royal Patron and Chairman of the Merdeka Award Trust.

How are Merdeka Award recipients selected?
The Merdeka Award nomination and selection process is independent, objective and fair and administered by the Board of Trustees, Selection Committee and Nomination Committees. The tenure for members of the Selection and Nomination committees is three years.

The Nomination Committee’s role is to identify, deliberate, shortlist and recommend candidates to the Selection Committee. There is one committee for each category, with three members in each of the committees except for Education & Community which has five members. For Anugerah Harapan Merdeka, candidates are identified, deliberated, and shortlisted by the Outstanding Contribution to Education and Community, Outstanding Contribution to Environment Planetary Health, Outstanding Contribution to Humanities, Arts and Sports, and Outstanding Contribution to Science, Technology & Innovation committee members.

The role of the Selection Committee is to deliberate the merits of the candidates put forward by the Nomination Committees and recommend the short-list to the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees, comprising representatives of the Founding Members as well as two Independent Members, determines the final selection of the recipients. There may not be recipients in every category, every year. The decision must be unanimous and there is one award for each category. The Award can be shared by as many as two recipients.

What is the nomination process for the Merdeka Award?
All nominations are to be submitted via the Merdeka Award website, however self-nomination will not be accepted or considered. Only candidates recommended by the Nomination Committee, past Merdeka Award recipients and independent nominators (members of the public who are subject matter experts) are allowed to nominate candidates for the award. All nominations must be accompanied by sufficient supporting documentation or recommendation to allow for meaningful evaluation.
What is the aim of the Merdeka award Grant for International Attachment?
The Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment aims to foster thought leadership, drive innovation, and cultivate a global perspective among young Malaysians. Through this initiative the Grant offers unique opportunities for recipients to collaborate with prestigious international institutions.

The grant covers all associated costs, including logistics and associated institution fees, ensuring recipients can fully focus on their work. Ultimately, the Trust seeks to nurture a culture of excellence that elevates the capabilities and achievements of young Malaysians, creating greater value for the nation on the global stage.

What is the selection process for the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment?
Recipients will be identified through a stringent three-step process.

First, the Merdeka Award Trust Secretariat together with the founders (PETRONAS & Shell) will evaluate all applications and develop a longlist of possible candidates in each of the categories. The Secretariat will then evaluate each candidate to ensure they meet the requirements of the Grant.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview with the Selection Committee. This Selection Committee is made up of representatives of the founding partners and external committee.

Following the interviews, the Selection Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, who will make the final selection.

What are some of the key requirements and Terms of Engagement for the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment?
Under the Terms of Engagement, the Merdeka Award Grant recipient will be required to execute the following, under the supervision of the Merdeka Award Secretariat:
Make a minimum of 3x weekly postings on his / her experiences on the Merdeka Award Merdeka Award social media accounts, over the course of the preparation for the attachment, the attachment itself and for a period of 3 months upon his / her return to Malaysia.
Reach out to and engage with Malaysians and non-Malaysian students in similar or related areas of study, to build the recipient’s network of contacts and colleagues around the world
Conduct a minimum of 6x speaking engagements upon his / her return to Malaysia, over the course of one year
To make himself / herself available to the Merdeka Award Secretariat for interviews and other publicity initiatives for a period of one year after his / her return.

Why are applications limited to those between 22 – 35 years of age?
The attachment aims to help the recipient build on his or her expertise by undergoing a learning experience in an institution or organisation of international repute and improving the Grantee’s body of work and achievements. We believe that to achieve this, the recipient must first have a strong foundation in their area of study, and a plan to pursue this area of study in the long-term. The Grant therefore is most likely to benefit those in this age group.

What is the value of the Grant?
The value of the Grant varies, depending on the proposed institution of study and the related costs that come with it. There is no fixed amount. However, the Merdeka Award operates as a trust and its funds need to be expended responsibly and for the maximum benefit of Malaysia and Malaysians. The value of the Grant must therefore be within reasonable limits as defined by the Merdeka Award Secretariat.

What if the total value of the Grant does not cover the recipients’ expenses while on the attachment?
The Grant application process requires applicants to submit a proposed budget for their attachment, which will be evaluated by the Merdeka Award Trust Secretariat. The budget, covering all reasonable costs necessary for the attachment, including logistics such as accommodations, flights, and other associated institution fees will be allocated accordingly. Once the budget is approved, it will be the recipient's responsibility to manage their funds during the attachment. Any shortfalls beyond the allocated amount will need to be covered by the recipient.

How will the host institution be identified?
The applicants will propose the appropriate institution in their field of expertise. However, final placement is subject to availability and acceptance of the recipient by the host institution. The host institution must be a world-renowned establishment that can provide significant value to the applicant's current research project.

Can Grant recipients collaborate with multiple institutions during the attachment?
Yes, Grant recipients can collaborate with multiple institutions during their attachment, subject to approval. However, please keep in mind that the attachment period is limited to 3 months, therefore the proposal must be feasible and practical. Grantees are welcome to suggest multiple institutions and each proposal will be carefully evaluated by the Merdeka Award Trust Secretariat.

Can the recipient choose to extend the period of attachment beyond what has been arranged by the Merdeka Award Trust?
The recipient must adhere to the start and end dates of the attachment as agreed upon by the Merdeka Award Trust and the host institution and must arrange to return to Malaysia within a specified period (3 months) after the attachment concludes. Additionally, the host institution must be a renowned establishment, as stipulated in the Terms of Engagement.

Is the Grant recipient required to be tied or bonded to the Merdeka Award Trust for a specified period after the attachment?
There is no employment bond with the Merdeka Award Trust linked to the Grant, as the attachment programme is intended solely to provide a learning experience with the recipient's chosen institution. However, the recipient will be required to participate in a number of speaking and publicity engagements aimed at sharing their experiences and insights with other young Malaysians. The terms of this arrangement are outlined in the Terms of Engagement, which the recipient must sign with the Merdeka Award Trust Secretariat.