USM PENANG, 20 July 2023 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student, Muhammad Nasri Nasehir Khan has recently been awarded the esteemed Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship (BYDPA) 2023.

Muhammad Nasri, 24, was among eleven students from higher learning institutions who were awarded scholarships to continue their studies at the Doctorate (PhD) or Master’s degree (research) level either at research universities locally or abroad.

The scholarship was conferred by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in a ceremony held at Istana Negara on 12 July.

Currently attached to the USM School of Civil Engineering, the impact of his PhD research that focuses on Water Sustainability and Security was one of the main criteria evaluated in awarding the scholarship, in addition to his outstanding achievements in academics and social activities that have an impact on the community.

Muhammad Nasri graduated with a CGPA of 4.0 for his Bachelor’s degree, making him one of the outstanding students from the beginning of his journey in higher education.

Muhammad Nasri when contacted said that he was elated to be selected to receive the prestigious scholarship, and admitted that his parents, family members, teaching staff and friends were the backbone of his success all this while.

"I have always strived for excellence in whatever I do, but without the accompaniment of prayers and support from all those dear to me, I would not have reached where I am today," said Muhammad Nasri who also received the Anugerah Pelajaran Diraja, Majlis Raja-raja while doing his undergraduate studies then.

Elaborating on his research, he explained that he studied the effects of suspended effluent load from the rice paddy fields on the rivers and sought the best solution to enable water treatment to be carried out effectively.

"The suspended effluent load flowing from the paddy fields area will cause rivers to become turbid/cloudy/murky. Hence, my research is to find out how this turbidity effect can be reduced, while allowing the water to be treated by a water treatment plant,” he added.

"Until now, in Malaysia there is no specific standard for the process of releasing water directly from rice paddy fields to rivers. It is hoped that through this research, we can develop a standard for the process, so that the water released and treated will be able to be recycled for industrial use and as drinking water," he said.

BYDPA is a prestigious scholarship that was introduced in 2006. To date, 198 individuals have received sponsorship for studies in the fields of Economics, Law, Science and Technology, as well as Islamic Finance.

USM is proud and honoured to celebrate Muhammad Nasri’s achievement.

Congratulations to Muhammad Nasri for being recognised as one of the best and brightest minds of our nation!

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe