KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Former world squash champion Datuk Nicol Ann David and MERCY Malaysia were among the recipients of the prestigious 2026 Merdeka Award, recognising their outstanding contributions to the nation and its people.
Nicol received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Humanities, Arts and Sports, while MERCY Malaysia was named recipient for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Community, with its president Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus receiving the award on behalf of the organisation.
Other recipients were national linguistic icon Emeritus Prof Datuk Asmah Omar (Outstanding Scholastic and Academic Achievement); turtle conservationist Prof Dr Chan Eng Heng (Environment and Planetary Health); and two-time Paralympic gold medallist and badminton player Cheah Liek Hou, who received the Merdeka Award for Hope.
Three academicians were also recognised, namely Emeritus Prof Datin Paduka Datuk Dr Aini Ideris and Prof Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, both under Science, Technology and Innovation, and Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman, who received the Special Merdeka Award for his lifelong contribution to advancing science, technology and innovation in Malaysia.
The awards were presented by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah, who is also Royal Patron and Chairman of the Merdeka Award Trust.
In her speech at the announcement and presentation award ceremony, Nicol described the recognition as one of the proudest moments of her life, saying it honoured not only her sporting achievements but also her role in placing Malaysia on the world stage.
“I may have won professional titles, World Championships, and numerous sporting awards throughout my career, but nothing will ever compare to this very moment, because this award represents something so much bigger than my sporting career.
“It represents service to the nation … given me the opportunity to dream, to pursue those dreams, and to become who I am today and hopefully, inspire the next generation to believe that they too can dream beyond what they think is possible,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Faizal was quoted in a statement as saying that the award was not merely recognition of MERCY Malaysia's achievements over the past 27 years, but also of the collective spirit of service demonstrated by thousands of Malaysians.
He said the recognition strengthened the organisation's resolve to continue advancing humanitarian leadership, strengthening resilience and empowering communities amid increasingly complex humanitarian challenges, including climate emergencies, conflicts and public health threats.
MERCY Malaysia, in the same statement, said it had undertaken more than 500 humanitarian missions in over 35 countries, including Malaysia, since its establishment in 1999, serving communities affected by disasters, conflicts, health emergencies and displacement.
The organisation said its work included emergency medical relief and disaster response, healthcare system strengthening, mental health support, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian education and community empowerment.
“For MERCY Malaysia, this recognition belongs not to the organisation alone, but to the thousands of volunteers, staff, humanitarian workers, donors, partners, and supporters who have contributed their time, expertise and resources in serving humanity over the past two decades.
“Above all, it (the award) is dedicated to the communities that have entrusted MERCY Malaysia during some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” said the statement.
This year, laureates were selected following an extensive search in Malaysia and internationally, covering individuals and organisations that were evaluated based on the distinction and sustainable impact of their contributions.
-- BERNAMA