Latest news with #AcademyofSciencesMalaysia
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Gas deal signals new era of Putrajaya-Sarawak cooperation, says political scientist
Jayum says the move reflects an effort to address and reform long-standing federal-regional issues, particularly those enshrined in MA63. KUCHING (May 22): The agreement on Sarawak's gas distribution, reached between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is a step in the right direction to reform relations between Putrajaya and Sarawak, said political scientist Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan. The Academy of Sciences Malaysia fellow said the move reflects an effort to address and reform long-standing federal-regional issues, particularly those enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 'The loss of many of Sarawak's rights to its wealth was not the making of Abang Johari, and neither did it happen during Anwar Ibrahim's watch as Prime Minister. 'However, that Abang Johari and Anwar Ibrahim can sit down and come to terms to resolve some of the federal-regional issues shows high wisdom on the part of both the Premier and the Prime Minister,' he told The Borneo Post . Jayum was commenting on the joint declaration signed on Wednesday by Anwar and Abang Johari, which stated that all relevant federal and state laws governing gas distribution in Sarawak will coexist and be upheld by all parties involved. Jayum, who is also an adjunct professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia Institute of Borneo Studies, said this cooperative approach should be emulated by leaders at all levels of government to build a united Malaysia beyond the scope of MA63. The declaration also involved Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), with both entities affirming their roles under the agreement. 'Petronas will continue its functions, activities, responsibilities and obligations entrusted to it under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974) and its regulations. 'All parties shall endeavor to continue working together to develop a framework that benefits the nation while taking into consideration Sarawak's aspirations,' it said. The agreement also confirmed the appointment of Petros as the gas aggregator for Sarawak.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Science
- Barnama
Dr Ravigadevi Becomes First Malaysian Elected To Royal Society
A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi - Credit: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. 'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. 'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. 'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. 'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. 'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. 'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation. 'MOSTI will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said. In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with. 'Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said. Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally. 'More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), in a statement on Wednesday (May 21), said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. "Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. "One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. "This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia Madani framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation. "Mosti will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said. In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with. "Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said. Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally. "More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society. - Bernama
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Open contests a must to endorse PRS leadership, says don
Jayum says Masing—PRS' founder and first president—had held open contests in every Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) since the party's establishment in 2004. KUCHING (May 9): Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) ought to emulate their former president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, in subscribing to democratic principles by calling for open contests in the party, said Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan Empaling. The political scientist and Academy of Sciences Malaysia Fellow said Masing—PRS' founder and first president—had held open contests in every Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) since the party's establishment in 2004. 'Contests for positions in the party were held in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. The only exception was in 2022 when, following Masing's demise, the supreme council decided to maintain the leadership status quo after reaching a compromise,' he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday. He was asked for his take on PRS' TDC scheduled to take place this October, with the party yet to announce whether open contests would be held. Jayum said should PRS decide in favour of holding open contests, the winners would not necessarily be the best or most qualified person, but rather the most popular or well-liked by the grassroots. 'It's also about respect, which equates to being well accepted across the grassroots. The late Masing had this. 'How else could he lead the party for almost two decades if not for his knowledge, experience, charisma and wisdom?' Jayum said Masing's only fault was not to have in place a clear succession plan, although he was said to have favoured one person among his inner circle whom he saw as having clear leadership potential among the many PRS lawmakers. 'Unfortunately, Masing himself expressed reservation on whether this person would be able to draw support from the many competing aspirants,' he claimed. In moving forward, Jayum said PRS has no choice but to hold open contests in the upcoming TDC to endorse its leadership. He suggested PRS hold open forums where aspiring candidates can present their visions and plans for the party. 'It is important for party members to assess the quality of candidates that they are going to elect,' he said. He stressed that reaching a compromise on the party's leadership, such as in 2022, would deny members their right to elect their leaders, including the president. 'Anyone involved in this move (compromise) is unworthy of being elected to any position in the party, let alone party president. Engineering a compromise is tantamount to sweeping problems under the carpet. 'This is not the way to resolve issues within the party, especially if the current PRS leaders want to strengthen the party and emerge from the shadow of the late Masing,' said Jayum. James Masing Jayum Jawan Empaling party election PRS TDC
