KUALA LUMPUR: Youths must be empowered so they will be able to embark on their quests to make this world a better place, says Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah.
Sultan Nazrin, who is the Royal Patron and chairman of the Merdeka Award Trust, said issues such as social inclusion and environmental conservation are problems which need quick and sustainable solutions.
He said although there are youths eager to work on those solutions, they were hindered by financial constraints which could be solved by grants such as the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment.
He said this at the 2023 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment announcement and presentation ceremony at the PETRONAS Twin Towers here on Friday (Aug 25).
(The grant is awarded to outstanding Malaysians under 35 years old to completely finance their attachments and learning experiences in any part of the world.)
"If we are to change the narrative to ensure a more sustainable future for us all, then we must address the growing concerns over social inclusion and environmental conservation, today.
"If we are to tackle effectively the pressing problems that we collectively face, we must seek new approaches and find new solutions.
"One important element is to empower our youth to strengthen their efforts to help the young, the old, and the marginalised to overcome the structural and systemic obstacles they face," said Sultan Nazrin.
He added that assisting youths who are eager to make a change for the betterment of the nation and country was vital with efforts such as the Merdeka Award grants which enable recipients to venture out into the world to further their ambitions.
"What I find most fulfilling about presenting the grant is being part of this bold and enterprising journey of our Malaysian youth.
"Their energy and enthusiasm to create a positive impact in the world through their work gives me confidence in the next generation of Malaysian talent.
"Not only are we blessed with ever-richer human capital, but it is clear that our youth are absolutely committed to taking this country forward whatever the challenges we face.
"Applicants have expressed a strong desire to be change makers in their chosen fields, and to thereby change the trajectory both for their own communities, and more broadly, for the future of our shared planet.
"This again is highly encouraging, as we must all strive together to build a sustainable future," said Sultan Nazrin.
The recipients for the grant this year are Masni Mat Dong, Syaza Soraya Sauli, Amaziasizamoria Jumail, Dr Kong Xin Ying and Dr Ng Chuck Chuan.
Masni was the first Orang Asli recipient while Amaziasizamoria was the first female Sabahan to receive the grant.
A lecturer from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Masni would be using the grant to work on Orang Asli’s multi-dimensional poverty and spatial justice.
Masni said she is extremely grateful that the grant would enable her to upgrade the living conditions of Orang Asli who are largely in poverty.
A member of the Jakun tribe, Masni from Kuantan, Pahang hoped on returning from the attachment, the outcome would enable her to influence policies to create a better life for her people.
Amaziasizamoria, who was currently a research officer at Danau Girang Field Centre, would be looking at issues on tropical forest restoration and would be doing her attachment in Mexico.
Hailing from Kota Belud, Amaziasizamoriam said she was excited to spend her time in Mexico as the issues endangering the forests in Mexico are similar with Malaysia.
Syaza, who was currently doing her PhD at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, would be using the grant she received to look at how she could ingrain the love for environment amongst preschoolers through hands-on learning modules.
She would be doing her attachment in Minnesota, United States.
A mother of two, Syaza said the grant would enable her to widen her scope to work on creating learning modules that would literally be "green time vs screen time" among preschoolers.
"We are talking of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) but how can we create scientists if they have never gone out into the environment and felt the sun? I intend for my learning modules to include the parents too," said Syaza.
Meanwhile, Kong, a postdoctoral fellow at Nanyang Technological University, planned to use the grant to further work on “photocatalytic upcycling plastics as a sustainable energy alternative”.
Ng, who was an assistant professor at Xiamen University Malaysia would be working on "phytoremediation" - a method using plants to solve the issue of soil pollution.
At the same event, president and CEO of PETRONAS and Merdeka Award Trust Board of Trustee Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik said that past recipients of the grant have now gone to push the boundaries in various fields.
"The experiences and insights of the grant recipients will have the potential to effect positive change in our communities and propel Malaysia towards greater heights," said Tengku Muhammad Taufik.
