MERDEKA WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Dr Khalid Abdul Kadir lecturing.

It is a step forward for us in recognising meaningful contribution by fellow Malaysians. To share with malaysiakini readers what one of the award winner this year has to say.

Give More Room
For Young Researchers,
Says Award Winner

Award- winning researcher Prof Datuk Dr Khalid Abdul Kadir has urged local universities to give more rooms to young people to conduct their research.

Prof Khalid, one of five recipients of the inaugural Merdeka Award, said that young researchers should be funded to conduct their research, adding that the result of their research should be published.

He said this after kicking-off his inaugural Merdeka Award Lecture Series themed, 'Hormones, Stress and Metabolism: A 30-year Journey' at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here today.

Prof Khalid advised young researchers to understand medical clinical research as it could be quite an arduous journey.

"Collaborating with a group of intelligent and enthusiastic people is important as research is a team effort," he noted.

The 60-year-old head of the Johor Baru Monash University Clinical School advised researchers not to fade away, in the event of criticism. Rather, they should use the criticism to strive to produce a better piece and improve their work.

Prof Khalid, who is also lecturer, medical specialist and researcher, first embarked on research work in 1973, while studying at the Monash University in Australia where he studied the cellular aspects of the body's endocrine system.

After acquiring an MBBS degree, he was offered a scholarship to continue his education at Monash University at PhD level.

After obtaining his PhD in endocrinology, Dr Khalid returned home and continued his research on hormones that caused physiological disorders.

Born in Nong Chik, Johor, Prof Khalid admitted that it was difficult balancing his research with being an endocrinologist, his duties as a professor and his family.

He is no stranger to stature as his parents were none other than former law minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusof and the nation's first woman minister Tun Fatimah Hashim. [ Give More Rooms For Young Researchers, Says Award Winner Bernama, Malaysia ]

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beritadarigunung

Merdeka Award Lecture Series To Begin On Wednesday

The Merdeka Award lecture series will begin on Jan 7 in Penang with a lecture by Profesor Datuk Dr Khalid Abdul Kadir, who is joint recipient of the award in the health, science and technology category together with the Nipah Encephalitis Team from the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.

Dr Khalid is Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash University Malaysia.

The first lecture will be delivered at Dewan Budaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang at 10am

According to a statement by the Merdeka Award Secretariat, Dr Khalid will deliver a lecture titled 'Hormones, Stress and Metabolism - A 30 Year Journey'.

He was selected for the award in recognition of his research on diabetes and the relationship between hormones and stresses in various tissues.

Besides Dr Khalid, the other recipients of the award are Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid in the education and community category, the Malaysian Nature Society (environment category) and Datuk Leslie Davidson (oustanding contribution to the people of Malaysia).

The statement said each lecture will be followed by a question and answer session to enable the public to interact with the recipients and that the lectures by the other four recipients will be announced in due course.

Universiti Teknologi Petronas is the organiser of the lecture series, the statement added.

The Merdeka Award, which was first awarded last year in conjunction with the independence celebrations, is jointly initiated by Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell as the founding members and was established to recognise and reward individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions for the advancement of Malaysia and its people.

-- BERNAMA

MERDEKA AWARD: Ungku Aziz in the list.

Royal Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid to receive Merdeka Award on Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: This year's Merdeka Award recipients will receive their awards from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday.

They are Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid in the Education and Community category; the Malaysian Nature Society in the Environment category; the 15-member Nipah Encephalitis investigation team of Universiti Malaya and Professor Datuk Dr Khalid Kadir in the Health, Science and Technology category, and Datuk Leslie Davidson in the Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia category.

Each recipient gets RM500,000 cash, a trophy and a certificate.

The Merdeka Award was established last year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of independence by Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell to recognise the contributions of individuals and organisations to the nation and people.

Professor Ungku Aziz was selected for his contributions in the eradication of poverty, development of the rural economy and the field of education.
MNS was chosen for its conservation of the Belum-Temenggor forest reserve in Perak.

The Nipah Encephalitis investigation team and Dr Khalid are being recognised for their research on diabetes and the relationship between hormones and stress.

Davidson, a Briton, was chosen for his contributions to the development of large-scale oil palm plantations in the country. ... nst

Merdeka Awards: Initiated by Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell

The spark is lit

By PATSY KAM

The Merdeka Award will be an inspiration to innovation.

FOR the first time, the prestigious Merdeka Award will be given to recognise and reward individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of Malaysia and its people.

Initiated by Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell, excellence in five categories will be rewarded: Health, Science and Technology; Education and Community; Environment; Outstanding Scholastic Achievement; and Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia. Each category carries a cash prize of RM500,000 and comes with a trophy and a certificate.

“I’m happy that there’s such an award. There’s a need to encourage young scientists and researchers who often work in the background. Many countries see science as a tool to eradicate poverty and help the country progress,” says Tan Sri Augustine Ong, who is part of the nomination committee for the Health, Science and Technology category, together with Dr Oystein Berg and Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang.

“We have a strong background in health – our first research centre, the Institute for Medical Research, was set up as early as 1916. The health system in Malaysia is one of the best in the world and we have good health infrastructure. For this Award, we will also be looking at innovation and creativity, research and development in these fields.”

Several evaluative criteria will be applied in the selection of winners. The work put forward has to be original, recognised internationally and relevant.

“How do you judge originality? Well, scientists can only be judged by their peers and this is when their work gets published in peer review journals, and they get recognition when they are invited on fellowships or to speak at international conferences.

“In terms of health, we need to look at how new concepts have saved lives. Or it could be the use of new technology which has helped to increase the yield of crops significantly which will in turn help the poor,” adds Ong, founding president of the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS). Ong is well-known for his work in academia and the local palm oil industry, and has been awarded a number of fellowships, prizes and medals for his many achievements.

The Award is timely as it not only commemorates the country’s 50th year of independence but is an acknowledgement of how far we’ve progressed in health, science and technology.

Ong says that it’s not uncommon for a prophet not to be appreciated in his own country. “Sometimes, our own inventions are not given much attention locally but they are recognised overseas. For example, there was this chef who devised a method of cooking eggs by controlling temperatures, the flow of hot water and other specifics. He received a bronze medal here but when he presented his invention in Geneva, he received a gold medal for his efforts.

“We want to encourage barefoot inventors from the public levels and encourage an innovative society. Parents and the government both play a role. These days, the yardstick of excellence isn’t just about learning from the master. Rather, one should now be judged by the number of students who excel and become better than the master.”

Ong sees the Award as an excellent step towards stimulating the “cream of the crop” in the field and that it is incentives like these that will encourage and inspire others to follow suit.

“But there should be other incentives besides money. Sometimes, the benefits of science and technology in daily use are not always clear or immediate. Financial returns should not be the only motivation.

“We have to ask ourselves, why do so many Americans win the Nobel prize? It’s because they have been groomed from young to be original and creative. If you develop an interest from young and your work coincides with your interest, then it becomes a life-long commitment. We need to train people to think and challenge young minds.”

The challenge is to convert society as it is not always supportive of science and technology.

“Research is normally not done here. We need more enlightened ones to guide. There is a pervasive tendency here for people to be followers instead of leaders. We need to be strong in fundamentals.”

Interestingly, Ong brings up the fact that creativity need not always come from urban folks, and adds that it would be worthwhile to invest in human resource and empower the people.

Indeed, the Award will be a milestone in Malaysia’s hall of fame.

“This is the beginning of an explosion,” Ong says.

click here: The spark is lit
Malaysia Star, Malaysia