2017 Merdeka Award for Asialink International Director

Asialink’s International Director, Professor Anthony Milner, was a recipient of a 2017 Merdeka Awards in the category of Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia.

On 11 September 2017, Asialink’s International Director, Professor Anthony Milner, was one of six individuals to be awarded a prestigious Merdeka Award for Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia.

Image: Professor Anthony Milner (far left) with 2017 Merdeka Award recipients and the Sultan of Perak and Chancellor of the University of Malaya, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah (fifth from right) by Yazit Razali

The New Straits Times reported that Professor Milner’s outstanding scholarship in Malaysian history has “shaped and promoted the understanding of the nation’s identity, heritage and culture”. The award also recognised his role in fostering genuine international collaboration.

The 2017 Merdeka Awards were presented by His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Perak and Chancellor of the University of Malaya, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah. Merdeka means independence in Malay and the awards are thus held around the time of Malaysia’s national Independence Day, 31 August, each year. But merdeka is also about passion, leadership and determination, qualities which all the Merdeka Award recipients embody.

We congratulate Professor Milner on this outstanding achievement and important recognition of his long term dedication and fine scholarship. Asialink and our partners across all sectors of Australian professional life acknowledge Professor Milner’s continued and much valued work in fostering greater Australia-Asia understanding and providing academic leadership across Asialink Dialogues, Diplomacy and our Leaders’ Program.