Kota Kinabalu, 19 December 2023 – The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) recently awarded the prestigious Freezailah Forest Sustainability Award to Ooi Yi Wei, a graduating student from the Faculty of Tropical Forestry at University Malaysia Sabah (UMS). This recognition emphasises MTCC’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and nurturing the next generation of forest stewards.
Yi Wei, originally from Kedah, earned a remarkable CGPA of 3.96 and impressed the selection committee with her outstanding final year project thesis titled “Ficus Septica Burm. F. (Moraceae) Stem Cutting Survival Rate in Sandakan Bay, Sime Darby Plantations.”
Yi Wei received a cash prize of RM2,000 and a certificate of achievement from MTCC Deputy CEO, Puan Sabrina Mawasi, during the UMS 25th convocation ceremony held on 11 December. The presentation was witnessed by dignitaries including UMS Vice Chancellor, YBhg. Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, and Dean of Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Associate Professor Dr. Normah Awang Besar@Raffie.
Award Honors Legacy of Forest Champion
Established in 2016, the Freezailah Forest Sustainability Award acknowledges exceptional students in forestry-related disciplines who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated expertise in their final year projects. The award honors the legacy of MTCC’s founding chairman, Dato’ Dr Freezailah Che Yeom, who dedicated 17 years of leadership to the organization and was a champion of responsible forest management practices.
Rigorous Selection Process
Recipients of the MTCC Academic Awards are chosen based on rigorous criteria, including academic performance and the quality of their final year projects. Eligible projects must focus on areas directly linked to Sustainable Forest Management, Forest Certification, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Impact Assessment, Forest Plantation Management, Chain-of-Custody Certification, or Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products Utilization.