The Merdeka Award Trust, founded by PETRONAS, ExxonMobil and Shell, announced Thursday that it has conferred six eminent individuals the 2014 Merdeka Award, for their outstanding and lasting contributions in their respective fields to the nation and the people of Malaysia.
The announcement was made by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan and Royal Patron of the Merdeka Award Trust, at an event held at the Malaysian Petroleum Club.
Present at the Announcement were members of the Merdeka Award Board of Trustees Tan Sri Dato’ Shamsul Azhar Abbas, President & Group CEO of PETRONAS and Mr See Kok Yew, Chairman of the ExxonMobil Subsidiaries in Malaysia. The event was also attended by members of the Merdeka Award Selection Committee and Nomination committees and members of the media.
Selected through an extensive and stringent process, these eminent individuals stood above the rest as the most worthy candidates who embody the true Spirit of Merdeka and the pursuit of excellence.
"The search, nomination and selection of Merdeka Award recipients, which began in January this year, were extensive and rigorous,” His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin said. "In the final round of selection only the most outstanding achievements and contributions are recognised."
The 2014 Merdeka Award recipients are:
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Education and Community: DATUK MOHD NOR KHALID (LAT)
For outstanding contribution to the promotion and pluralism of Malaysia’s cultural identity through the use of cartoons and for the promotion of understanding and respect among Malaysia’s diverse ethnic communities.
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Environment: MOHD KHAN MOMIN KHAN
For outstanding contribution to wildlife research and conservation through the setting up of captive breeding centres as well as for pioneering and successfully managing the human-wildlife conflict in affected areas.
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Health, Science and Technology: DATUK DR CHOO YUEN MAY
For outstanding contribution to the development of novel, efficient and green processes for the palm-based industry through research and commercialisation of various technologies.
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Outstanding Scholastic Achievement: PROFESSOR DR ABDUL LATIF AHMAD (Joint Recipient)
For outstanding contribution to the scholarly research and development of technologies in the areas of polymer science, wastewater treatment and membrane separation technology.
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Outstanding Scholastic Achievement: PROFESSOR DR AHMAD FAUZI ISMAIL (Joint Recipient)
For outstanding contribution to scholarly research and the development of technologies for commercialisation in membrane performance for both gas separation, and water and wastewater treatment.
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Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia: DATO’ EARL OF CRANBROOK
For outstanding contribution in pioneering research and conservation of Malaysia’s forest biodiversity and the ecology and biology of Malaysian mammals and birds, and for advocating environmental conservation.
In addition to the honour and cash award that comes with the accolade, the 2014 Merdeka Award recipients join the list of 22 individuals and two organisations in being recognised as among Malaysia's most inspiring individuals and organisations which have made lasting impact in the development of this nation.
Alongside with the Merdeka Award, two young scientists, Dr Kamalan Jeevaratnam, 33, and Dr Lim Hong Ngee, 35, were awarded the 2014 Merdeka Awards Grant for International Attachment, which is a signature outreach programme by the Merdeka Award Trust.
They will both have the opportunity to undergo an attachment of up to three months at an internationally-recognised institution of their choice to pursue their researches on cardiac cellular therapy using stem cells and nanotechnology-based breast cancer testing scheme respectively.
Dr Kamalan and Dr Lim join pioneer recipients Assistant Professor Dr Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam and Dr Natrah Fatin Mohd Ikhsan who were awarded the Grant last year.
Malaysians will be able to learn more and share in Dr Kamalan and Dr Lim's progress from their preparation stages right through to their return from their attachment via the Merdeka Award website (www.merdekaaward.my) and the Merdeka Award Facebook page.
The 2014 Merdeka Award recipients will receive their awards at an award ceremony that will be held before the end of the year.
