Augustine Ong, one of three recipients of Merdeka Award 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil advocate and promoter, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock and prominent Muslim philosopher and thinker Prof Tan Sri Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas are among the three recipients of this year's Merdeka Award.

The third recipient is Indonesian botanist, Prof Dr Engkik Soepadmo who is the foremost authority on Malaysia's forest plant diversity.