Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang is among Merdeka Awards recepients

Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang, who successfully performed the first heart transplant in Malaysia, is among five recipients of the prestigous Merdeka Award 2013 announced by the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah here today.

The other recipients are education pioneer Tan Sri Arshad Ayub, Raja Tan Sri Muhammad Alias who helmed Felda for over three decades, pioneer in the field of zoology Dr Lim Boo Liat and researcher Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit.

"Collectively, these individuals have positively impacted numerous lives, not just in Malaysia, but also in the region and around the world, and made a significant difference to our understanding and appreciation of the world we live in today," said Raja Nazrin.

Raja Nazrin, who is chairman of the Merdeka Award board of trustees, said Dr Yahya was picked as the recipient in the Health, Science and Technology category for his outstanding contribution to pioneering the development of clinical research and cadiac surgery in the country.

He also played an instrumental role in the establishment of the National Heart Institute.

Arshad was picked in the Education and Community category for his outstanding contribution in shaping Malaysia's education landscape which had resulted in education becoming more accessible to Malaysians.

He laid the foundation for Institut Teknologi Mara (now Universiti Teknologi MARA), which has grown to become Malaysia's largest institution of higher learning in terms of size and population, offering 480 academic programmes.

Raja Muhammad Alias was named the joint recipient in the same category for his outstanding contribution to the rural development and rural reform through organising successful land settlement projects in Malaysia.

"He crystallised the vision of then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein to 'provide land to the landless, and jobs for the jobless'," said Raja Nazrin.

Dr Lim was named the recipient in the Enviromental category for his outstanding contribution to the conservation of Malaysia's biological diversity through his six decades of scientific research and environmental advocacy.

Meanwhile, Dr Lam shone in the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement category for his contribution to scholarly research and development in medical virology and infectious diseases, including dengue.

He was part of a Universiti Malaya team which identified the Nipah virus as a cause of viral encephalitis among pig farms in the country, helping to contain the outbreak.

There is no award this year for the category of Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia.

Recipients will receive a trophy, the Merdeka Award Work of Art by renowned artist Latiff Mohidin and a cash award of RM500,000.

The Merdeka Award was launched in 2007 by Petronas, ExxonMobil and Shell.