PENANG, 28 December 2016 - The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail has been appointed by His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV as the fifth President of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) effective from today.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau in a press release recently.

"MOSTI would continue to have close collaborations with ASM under the leadership of Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail," said Madius.

"I am confident that her experience in the field of sciences and talent management would lead ASM towards achieving greater heights and continue to position ASM as the national thought leader in Science, Engineering and Technology," he added.

Asma has been appointed to head the organisation for the next three years until December 2019, taking over from Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Ir. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali, who held the post for the past six years until 27 December 2016.

She has been appointed as a Fellow of ASM in 2003 for her contributions and work in the field of Medical and Health Sciences and later appointed as an Ordinary Council Member of ASM from 2007-2011. Asma then served as ASM Vice-President from 2012-2015.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin