She’s the great gene detective

WE have another “Oscar” winner! But unlike Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh’s best actress win that was immediately known the moment she was crowned, Malaysians didn’t cotton on to haematologist and physician-scientist Dr Thein Swee Lay’s magnificent achievement until weeks later.

Dr Thein won one of the six 2026 Breakthrough Prizes, the first Malaysian scientist to be so honoured. Never heard of the awards or Dr Thein? Well, I bet most Malaysians, myself included, were totally ignorant until last week. Now, we have learned that these awards are the “Oscars of Science”.