King Awards Scholarships To 13 University Students
Ten recipients were awarded scholarships for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies, and three people received scholarships for Master's (research) programmes.
Mohamad Fariz Haiqal Mohd Ruslan, who is pursuing a doctorate study in Pharmacology and Pharmacy at King's College London, United Kingdom, and Karen Low Ka Ling at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), received the PhD scholarship.
Other PhD scholarship recipients are Muhammad Hamizan Zawawi (Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Muhamad Aiman Hakim Nor Khalid (Mathematics and Statistics, UKM), Sarah Dania Mohd Kahar (Commercial Law, Universiti Malaya), Teoh Shu Jou (Data Management, Universiti Malaya), Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Sukri (Biotechnology, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Nurul Angelyn Zulhairy Liong (Genetics and Heredity, Universiti Malaya), Nur Zakirah Jasni (Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Australia), and Nurfatima Azzahra Fadli (Biochemistry, UKM).
The BYDPA recipients pursuing studies at the Master's level are Fatini Nadiah Mohammad Zamzami (Biochemistry, UKM), Tiew Siew Jin (Biotechnology, Universiti Putra Malaysia), and Yugashini P. Muhilan (Biomedical Materials, UKM).
The BYDPA is a prestigious national scholarship introduced in 2006 to sponsor Malaysian citizens who excel academically and are actively involved in co-curricular activities, such as community service, or who produce work that demonstrates creativity and innovation.
To date, 20 scholarship cycles have been offered, benefiting 225 recipients, 117 at the PhD level and 108 at the Master's level. They received funding to pursue studies in fields such as Economics, Law, Science and Technology, Islamic Finance, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz told reporters that the department will conduct an impact study on the BYDPA programme.
'It has been offered for more than 20 years, and we feel it is necessary to review the current needs in terms of the approach and the fields of study granted to future students,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
'Rogadius azizahae': UMT researcher discovers new fish species in Malaysian waters
KUALA NERUS: A researcher from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has discovered a new fish species, 'Rogadius azizahae', in the waters of the South China Sea, marking a significant addition to Malaysia's rich marine biodiversity. Dr Tun Nurul Aimi Mat Jaafar, from UMT's Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, said that the unique species was discovered on June 5 and 30, 2016, off the coasts of Terengganu and Johor, during a scientific expedition on demersal fisheries resources in the east coast exclusive economic zone, conducted in collaboration with the Fisheries Department. She said that the fish species, which belongs to the flathead family, has been officially recognised by Zootaxa, an international taxonomic authority, which validated the species' name prior to its publication in the Journal of Fish Biology on Aug 4, 2025. "These three specimens were discovered at depths of between 53 and 58 metres, during a scientific expedition involving UMT researchers, officers from the Fisheries Department, and students," she added. "Rogadius azizahae, or its local name Baji Azizah, is a small-sized fish measuring between 10 and 11 centimetres in length. "It features a fine dark pattern on its pelvic fins and a translucent white centre," she said at a press conference at UMT yesterday today. She said that Baji Azizah is a species of bottom-dwelling fish, which is difficult to detect due to its flat body shape and brownish colouration, which closely resembles the seabed. These features make the species highly adept at natural camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the deep-sea sand. She said the discovery is proof that Malaysian waters, particularly the South China Sea, remain rich in untapped biodiversity, with many marine treasures still waiting to be explored for the benefit of humanity. "This opens up vast opportunities for further research into the benthic fish community in Malaysian waters, which remains largely unexplored. "In fact, it also provides a platform for UMT to strengthen marine conservation efforts, deepen understanding of marine ecosystems, and support the enhancement of national fisheries resource management policies. She said that the scientific name 'azizahae' was chosen as a tribute to Prof Dr Siti Azizah Mohd Nor, UMT's Senior Research Fellow, in recognition of her significant contributions to the field of molecular ecology and the conservation of fish biodiversity in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Siti Azizah, who was also present at the press conference, said that further research would be conducted to better understand the characteristics and ecological significance of the newly discovered species. "We still don't know the full details about this fish, but it is important to conserve all aquatic species to protect the richness of marine biodiversity. "A higher level of biodiversity in an ecosystem increases its resilience, which is especially crucial in the face of global climate change, as it affects both marine life and humans," she said. – Bernama
Focus Malaysia
9 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
New fish species named Rogadius Azizahae after Professor Dr Siti Azizah
A TEAM from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has identified a new species of fish, Rogadius azizahae, found in the South China Sea, marking a significant milestone in marine biodiversity research. Dr Tun Nurul Aimi Mat Jaafar, from UMT's Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, shared that the discovery took place during a scientific expedition in June 2016, conducted in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia. The team collected specimens off the coasts of Terengganu and Johor as part of the Demersal Fisheries Resources Scientific Expedition within Malaysia's Eastern Exclusive Economic Zone. The newly discovered species, which belongs to the flathead family, was later formally recognised by Zootaxa, an international authority on taxonomy. It was officially documented in the Journal of Fish Biology on 4 August 2025. 'These three specimens were found at depths between 53 and 58 metres during the scientific expedition involving UMT researchers, Department of Fisheries officers, and students,' Dr Tun Nurul Aimi said during a press briefing at UMT. Commonly referred to as Baji Azizah, the fish is relatively small—only about 10 to 11 centimetres in length—and features distinctive dark markings on its pelvic fins, with a semi-translucent white midsection. According to Dr Tun, the fish's flat body and brownish hue enable it to blend seamlessly with the ocean floor, making it extremely challenging to spot. 'These traits allow the species to camouflage naturally by blending into the deep-sea sand,' she explained. She added that this find underscores the untapped biodiversity within Malaysian waters, particularly in the South China Sea. 'This opens vast opportunities for further research into deep-sea fish communities in Malaysian waters that have yet to be fully explored,' she said. 'In fact, it also paves the way for UMT to strengthen conservation efforts, enhance understanding of marine ecosystems, and reinforce national fisheries resource management policies.' The species name azizahae was chosen in honour of UMT's senior research fellow, Professor Dr Siti Azizah Mohd Nor, who has made impactful contributions to molecular ecology and fish biodiversity conservation in Malaysia. Prof Siti Azizah, who was also present at the press conference, noted that more in-depth studies are planned to better understand the ecological role and characteristics of the species. 'We still don't know the detailed traits of this fish, but every species and marine life must be protected to ensure the richness of marine biodiversity,' she said. 'A higher biodiversity within an ecosystem is better as it increases resilience, especially in facing global climate change issues that affect both wildlife and humanity,' she added. —Aug 6, 2025 Main image: Bernama
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Expanding TVET for tahfiz students to create skilled huffaz
PORT DICKSON: The government's initiative to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to tahfiz students is a strategic move to develop skilled professionals, according to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan. He stated that this effort aims to produce well-rounded MADANI technocrats who are both huffaz (Quran memorisers) and technically proficient. 'Alhamdulillah, this TVET and innovation initiative is a wise and committed approach to empowering tahfiz students in line with the Maqasid Al-Shariah concept,' he said. He emphasised the goal of nurturing huffaz with professional careers and strong moral character who can contribute religious knowledge to society. Zulkifli made these remarks after officiating the closing ceremony of the Middle East Students Nadwah 2025. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously announced the MADANI TVET Empowerment Financing scheme and TVET Training Fund to boost youth participation. Meanwhile, Zulkifli noted that the three-day event involved 200 Malaysian students studying in the Middle East. The programme included discussions on MADANI leadership, law, and nationhood to address global geopolitical and economic challenges. 'Alhamdulillah, we could see that their understanding of MADANI leadership is improving,' he added. He stressed the importance of students embracing the MADANI framework to build a Malaysian civilisation rooted in Maqasid Al-Shariah. – Bernama
