Malaysia Honors Top Scientists

Malaysia confers top honors on its scientific brains.
Its Academy of Sciences Malaysia(ASM), the think tank for science, engineering and technology, has elevated three renowned Malaysian scientists from Fellows to Senior Fellows.
They are:
Dr. Canagasaby Devendra FASc, a famous animal sciences, animal husbandry and livestock  authority, for outstanding contribution to international tropical animal production, including  research and development over 30 years on pro-poor initiatives and improved livelihood systems, especially in the Third World;
Datuk Fateh Chand  Pars Ram FASc, a famous geosciences and geology expert, for outstanding contribution to the development of geological and earth sciences including work to formulate Malaysia's National Mineral Policy and associated mineral legislation and
Dr. Ho Chee Cheong FASc, a famous chemistry pioneer, for outstanding contribution and initiatives for pioneering the use of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, introducing the teaching of Colloid and Surface Chemistry and research and development resulting in the discovery of new phenomena and new synergistic uses of natural rubber latex and palm oil emulsions including four joint patents.
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi , who is ASM Honorary Fellow, presented the Senior Fellowship certificates, which carry the title "Academician" to the trio at a a special conferment and tribute ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center last night (Nov. 24, 2012).
Addressing the gathering of 600 people, Tun Abdullah said "building quality human capital is the key to a nation's competitive strength".
"Without the right scientific talent, however much funding you have, or however good your research support infrastructure, nothing much can be achieved in terms of groundbreaking scientific findings and innovation.
"We need to have a critical mass of scientific human capital to make a success of our investment in R&D and technological innovation," he stressed.
Tun Abdullah highlighted the importance to formulate the right policy to spur investmentto emulate the successes of Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Norway, in R&D and technological innovation for Malaysia to sharpen its competitive edge.
He spoke of the second thrust of Malaysia's National Mission to raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture a "first class mentality".
"Unless we invest wisely to build quality human capital, we may soon drown in the growing avalanche of global competition," he warned.
'When we speak of human capital development, we cannot help but link it to mindset change.
"Over the years, we have always been reminded of the fact that Malaysia can be proud of her first class physical infrastructure but we still have some ways to go in building a first class mentality among our people."

The former Malaysian Premier also urged Fellows of the Academy and Malaysian scientists to address the problems and issues related to environmental safeguards like recycling and proper stewardship with innovate ideas to motivate the necessary change.
ASM President Tan Sri Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali FASc said the ASM now has 224 Fellows including 20 Senior Fellows.
The ASM is an independent think tank established under the Academy of Sciences Act 1994 on Feb. 1, 1995 to pursue excellence in science, engineering and technology for the development of Malaysia and the benefit of mankind.
Last night, it also conferred 24 new Fellowships and announced the appointment of 27 top research scientists as the founding group to spearhead the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) program.
Please visit http://akademisains.gov.my and www.mytopscientists.org for details.
The new tagline of ASM is "Think Science, Celebrate Technology and Inspire Innovation".
In congratulating the recipients, Secretary-General of Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Dato' Dr. Madinah Mohamad stressed the conferment and recognition of their achievements "come with new national responsibility" in support of the mandate given to ASM to anchor its think tank role on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
She stressed that two initiatives - the new Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy 3 and the Science Act - would be formulated with active participation and input of ASM Fellows to develop Malaysia's future enhanced STI ecosystem.