Zakri named National Academic Laureate
SERDANG: Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid was accorded the prestigious National Academic Laureate Award at the Education Ministry’s 13th National Academic Awards last night.
Zakri was given the honour in recognition of his contributions in the academic field.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad presented the award to him, which also came with a RM200,000 cash prize, certificate and trophy.
Zakri had served as the science adviser to the prime minister, and is a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. He was also appointed by the UN as the co-chairman of STI Advisory Board of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Zakri was among nine academicians honoured at the event for excellence in various categories.
Other award recipients included Associate Professor Dr Oon Chern Ein of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), who received the Promising Academician Award.
Professor Dr Lai Oi Ming of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Dr Shahreza Md Sheriff of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu received the Innovation and Products Commercialisation Award and Teaching Award, respectively.
The Arts and Creativity Award went to Dr Ang Mei Foong of UPM (Performing Arts Cluster), Associate Professor Jalaini Abu Hassan of Universiti Teknologi Mara (Visual Arts Cluster) and Associate Professor Dr Kamariah Kamarudin of UPM (Creative Writing Cluster).
The two recipients of the Journal Literature Publication Award were Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Khalil H.P. Shawkataly of USM (Science field) and Professor Dr Sherina Mohd Sidik of UPM (Literature and Social Science field).
They each received RM50,000 together with a certificate and a trophy.
Present were Dr Mahathir’s wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching and Higher Education Department directorgeneral Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Mahathir said rapid development in the higher education landscape brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution required academicians to adapt and keep abreast with changes.