Sultan Nazrin (middle) with (from left) PETRONAS group chief executive officer and president Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, Calvin Shee Yin Ming, Merdeka Award Trust independent board of trustees member Prof Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, Nur Hafizah, Dinesh, Dr Rasyidah, Keisheni, Merdeka Award Trust independent board of trustees members Siti Hurrairah Sulaiman and Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah during the Merdeka Award Grant ceremony at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur on Aug 29. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star.
Outstanding Malaysians awarded 2025 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment
LAST week, the Merdeka Award Trust recognised five outstanding recipients for the 2025 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment.
The 2025 Merdeka Award Grant ceremony was held at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, on Aug 29, and was attended by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the royal patron and Merdeka Award Trust chairman.
During the keynote address, His Royal Highness called on local youth to be the driving force behind the nation’s progress.
“If we want a Malaysia that remains progressive – economically and socially – we need youth who are courageous to listen deeply and act with maturity, youth who are not distracted by cynicism, but inspired by truth, who understand that loving this country doesn’t mean ignoring its flaws – but working to celebrate its heritage and elevate our global stature,” he said during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, PETRONAS group chief executive officer and president and Merdeka Award Trust board of trustees member, Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik shared that the trust honours and celebrates accomplished Malaysians who have dedicated their careers to enriching the lives of local communities and contributing to the progress of the nation.
“The grant seeks to further extend this recognition to young Malaysians who have not just the vision but also the resolve to pursue greatness in their own fields,” he said.
“Past recipients of the grant have gone on to create lasting impact for Malaysia through their work in education, healthcare, science and technology.
“As these five outstanding recipients join the illustrious roster, we look forward to the game-changing solutions they have conceived, will soon refine and bring to fruition for the benefit of all Malaysians.”
Empowering nation-builders
Now in its 10th edition, the Merdeka Award Grant continues to provide a platform for young Malaysians to pursue short-term international attachments that enhance their research and leadership capabilities.
This year saw the highest number of applications for the grant, with over 200 applicants, signifying the growing prestige of the grant and the rising ambition of Malaysian youth to drive national progress.
Among the five recipients is Monash University Malaysia’s School of Pharmacy lecturer, Dinesh Sangarran Ramachandram.
Dinesh said his work to advance dementia care in the country, through culturally sensitive education and practical medication tools, is rooted in his own experiences.
“When I received the grant, the very first thought that came to my mind was of my late grandmother, who lived with dementia,” said Dinesh.
“This grant is deeply personal and a powerful reminder of why I am doing this work. It represents a chance to carry her memory by improving dementia care for others.”
He added that the grant will transform his international attachments by enabling him to collaborate with international professionals.
“It allows me to work with two leading teams: in the UK, where I will explore dementia care models, and in Canada, where I will learn from initiatives that focus on rural and remote populations,” he said.
(From left) Nur Hafizah, Keisheni, Dinesh, Dr Rasyidah and Shee with emcee Deborah Henry. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star“More importantly, it will act as a springboard to build a sustainable action plan that goes beyond research to actively engage stakeholders, from healthcare professionals and policymakers to community caregivers and families.”
Another recipient, Dr Rasyidah Rehir, a trainee medical lecturer from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said it is a tremendous honour to be one of the Merdeka Award Grant recipients for her work on Transforming Medical Training Through Body Donation and Advanced Cadaver Preservation.
“This grant is a powerful encouragement to continue my work with even greater dedication,” she said.
“My project isn’t just about improving medical training with advanced cadaver preservation, but also about changing how we view body donation in society.”
She added that the grant will be a game-changer for her international attachment, exposing her to cutting-edge techniques in cadaver preservation and body donation.
“It will deepen my knowledge and skills, allowing me to bring back innovative practices that can transform medical training here.
“I hope my project will produce better-trained healthcare professionals and foster a stronger culture of body donation,” she said.
Universiti Malaya Faculty of Science student, Calvin Shee Yin Ming, who is also the founder and president of United for Global Antimicrobial Stewardship (UGAS), said that he was shocked to be awarded the grant, as he was one of the youngest applicants.
“I feel very blessed to receive the grant, and at the same time, am aware of the responsibility that I have been entrusted with. So, I will utilise every single opportunity to the fullest,” said Shee.
With the grant, Shee aims to further his research on Exploring the Microbiome of Pitcher Plants to Serve as Natural Compounds for New Antibiotics.
“I hope I will be able to contribute to the future of public health in Malaysia, using next-generation genomics approaches, especially in our fight against antimicrobial resistance,” he said.
Meanwhile, another recipient, Keisheni Ganeson, who is a PhD researcher from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, noted that receiving the grant has reassured her about the importance of her work.
Her work entails Developing a Smart, Biodegradable Microneedle Patch made with Butterfly Pea to Treat Wounds.
“The grant will transform my journey by giving me visibility and a voice beyond the lab and academic journals.
“Often, researchers spend most of their time writing and conducting experiments, but their impact is not always seen,” she said.
“I believe it will enable me to bring back knowledge, new perspectives and collaborations that can strengthen Malaysia’s healthcare innovations.”
Nur Hafizah Annezah Utuh, a PhD researcher from Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia, shared that the grant represents esteemed recognition for her work.
She plans to extend her research on DNA-guided heart medication for personalised treatments to improve outcomes for heart disease patients.
“I believe what set my proposal apart was its completeness – it didn’t just stop at the exploratory stage, but also included practical application and economic value,” she said.
“My work complements the country’s MyGenom project, as it aims to bring precision medication from the research bench closer to everyday clinical practice.”
She added that she will travel to the Netherlands for her international attachment to collaborate with a leading working group that translates genomic research into clinical practice.
“I hope to contribute by helping design genetic panels tailored to our population, empowering healthcare professionals to make more personalised, evidence-based decisions.
“In the long run, this can transform our healthcare system into one that is not only more precise, but also more equitable and future-ready.”
Merdeka Award Trust
The Merdeka Award Trust was established in 2007 by PETRONAS and Shell to recognise and reward excellent individuals and organisations whose works and achievements have contributed to the nation’s growth and inspired greatness among Malaysians.
In 2012, the trust launched the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment as an extension to the Merdeka Award, enabling outstanding individuals between the ages of 22-35 to engage in short-term international placements of up to three months at globally renowned institutions, to support their research, studies or professional projects.
To date, the grant has supported 33 young Malaysians in pursuing short-term international attachments at more than 40 world-class institutions.
With more than a decade of impact, it continues to catalyse the next generation of nation-builders who are committed to shaping a more equitable, sustainable and inspired future.
