Six presented with prestigious Merdeka Award

KUALA LUMPUR: Six people have been presented with the prestigious Merdeka Award for their significant achievements and contributions to communities in the country and the world in their respective fields.

The six were Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Ismail (Education and Community), Datuk Seri Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahamood (Environment), Prof Dr Balbir Singh Mohan Singh (Health, Science and Technology – Joint Recipient), Dr Timothy William (Health, Science and Technology – Joint Recipient), Prof Dr Masjuki Hassan (Outstanding Scholastic Achievement) and Prof Dr Anthony Crothers Milner (Outstanding Contribution to the people of Malaysia).

The awards were presented by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzudin Shah during a ceremony held at Dewan Philharmonic Petronas last night.

Sultan Nazrin is the Royal Patron of the Merdeka Award Trust and the chairman of the Merdeka Award Board of Trustees.

Dr Abdul Halim was recognised for his pivotal role in establishing the first Islamic bank in Malaysia, which led to the development and growth of the nation and the region’s Islamic banking, insurance and finance sectors.

Outstanding achievers: Sultan Nazrin (fifth from right) posing for a group photograph with the Merdeka Award 2017 recipients (from left) Dr Milner, Dr Masjuki Hassan), Dr Balbir, Dr Abdul Halim, (from right) Dr William and Dr Zainal Adlin. With them are ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc president Edward E. Graham (fifth from left), Petronas chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan (centre), Petronas president and group CEO Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin (fourth from right) and Shell Malaysia chairman Datuk Iain Lo (third from right).

Dr Zainal Adlin was honoured for his outstanding contribution to wildlife and forest conservation in Malaysia and the region.

Dr Balbir, one of two recipients for the Health, Science and Technology category award, was lauded for his pioneering work on Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite, while Dr William was given the award for the effective treatment against Plasmodium knowlesi.

Dr Masjuki was bestowed the outstanding scholastic achievement award for his research in engineering and energy science and for his instrumental role in the research and development of biofuel and other sources of efficient energy and automotive engines.

Dr Milner was recognised for his contribution to the research and education on Malaysian history that has shaped and promoted the understanding of the nation’s identity, heritage and culture and for fostering international collaborations.

In his speech, Petronas president and group CEO Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said the Merdeka Award was a joint endeavour by the oil and gas industry to contribute to the development of the country and its people in a more meaningful way, by recognising and awarding the contributions of those who helped to promote the holistic growth of Malaysia.

The Merdeka Award was formed by Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell on Aug 27, 2007 to recognise and reward Malaysians and non-Malaysians who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the nation and the people of Malaysia in their respective fields.