Cochrane Malaysia’s awards for outstanding contribution of volunteer translators and editors to the Malay translation project , 2019

Cochrane Malaysia is pleased to announce the recipients of certificate of recognition for Malay translations completed between January and December 2019.   

The year 2019, 4 years after its launch in 2015, continued to be a productive year for  Cochrane Malay Translation. In 2019, we achieved another milestone by publishing our 2000th Malay PLS. Our production rate was steady at an average of 50 translations published per month.  Our Malay pages in cochrane.org received over 1,520,601 views during 2019, which was 5 times that during 2018. We continue to be one of the fastest growing Cochrane translation initiatives.  

On top of this, Malaysia is listed among top 20 nations which are most frequently accessing cochrane.org page, highlighting attitudes of Malaysian public towards evidence-based healthcare information. In 2019, Malaysia ranked 15 with 1,092,823 cochrane.org access coming from Malaysia. This is an increase from 2018 where Malaysia ranked 19 with 266,753 access.

These achievements would have been impossible without the generous contribution of our translators and editors all of whom work on voluntary basis. Our volunteers are all healthcare students or practitioners and come from over 10 institutions in Malaysia and abroad

It is almost impossible to thank these volunteers for their work. So as a form of recognition we issue certificates of recognition to our high performing translators and editors on an annual basis. This year we award-18 translators and editors for their outstanding work. Twelve of the award recipients were also 2018 recipients. Special congratulations to four of our editors who received certificate of recognition for four consecutive years!       

They are
  • Professor Dr Noorliza Mastura Ismail
  • Associate Professor Dr Tuan Hairulnizam Tuan Kamauzamanl       
  • Associate Professor Dr Norhayati Mohd Noor   
  • Dr Rosnani Zakaria                          

What are the criteria for receiving a certificate?

There are 3 categories of recognition with editors and translators receiving separate recognition:

    o   Bronze award for completing or editing more than 20 translations in a year
    o   Silver award for completing or editing 35 translations in a year
    o   Gold award  for completing or editing 50 translations in a year

Who are the recipients of certificates for 2019?:

They come from various medical and health institutions  throughout Malaysia and abroad. They are healthcare or medical students, nurses, medical experts and other healthcare professionals who have generously contributed their precious time for this work. The translators and editors shared their thoughts on getting involved with Malay translation.

This year we include a special mention to acknowledge contributions from volunteers who have not achieved minimum requirement for any of the recognition categories but show a sustained contribution over the past 2 years or longer. We would like to emphasize that their contributions do not go unnoticed.

“Our translators thank us for the opportunity but we truly want to thank our translators!”       

                                   Gold Translators

Wong Chun Hoong, Hospital Serdang (135 PLS)

"I hope that those translations can help more people to understand and appreciate the essentials of medical science so as to enable themselves to make effective informed decisions".

Dr Khoo Jing Hern, Houseman Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Kedah, Malaysia, with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) (108 PLS)
"By completely random chance, I was brought into the world of Cochrane by a professor of mine. Ever since, I have been actively involved in the translation project of Cochrane’s plain language summary (PLS) from English to the Malay language. What motivates me in translation, is the ability and opportunity to be a part of community as big as the Cochrane society. To be able to help myself, and more people in gaining knowledge, is an utmost pleasure".


Noor Salwah S Omar, Science Officer at the Research & Innovation Unit, Schoolof Dental Sciences , Universiti Sains Malaysia (61 PLS) 
"Thank you for giving me another opportunity to continue to become one of you many Cochrane translators. I hope the Malay community especially, continues to find this evidence based website useful and informative. Enjoy reading as much as I've enjoyed translating while gaining new informations on evidence based medicine myself".

                                        Bronze Translators

Denise Chai, Medical Student, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) (30 PLS) 
"As someone who grew up in a diverse country with many different cultural beliefs and "taboos" especially concerning treatment and management of various illnesses, I have always been fascinated on how healthcare staff explain the "myths vs facts" to laymen based on evidence based medicine. As such, I chose to do translations of plain-language summaries as part of my student elective as I wanted to try something different. I found the Cochrane reviews interesting to read and learnt alot in the process of doing translations. I would definitely recommend this as an elective experience, or even to do in one's spare time!".

Khaw Loke Tim, Immunologist-Division of Pathology, International Medical University (29 PLS) 
“I believe knowledge should transcend any barriers, especially language, and I would like to do more for 2020".

Dr Syarifah Amirah Balqis Awang, A medical graduate from Lincoln University College, Malaysia. (25 PLS)          

Dr Siang Ching Chieng Raymond  (Klinik Kesihatan Bintangor, Sarawak (25 PLS)    
"I have been involved with Cochrane Malay translation project since 2015. It is a good opportunity for to contribute back to the Malaysian society and educate the public on their daily health decisions. This provides them with reliable information rather than trusting random health misinformation on facebook or whatsapp. The Cochrane reviews also exposed me to the methods of systematic reviews which are useful in synthesizing conclusions from various clinical trials. I enjoy the translation process and it is an opportunity for me to learn our national language".                                            

Mastura Abd Malek, PhD Student (Physiology), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (20 PLS) 
"As a postgraduate student from Basic Science background, I’ve found it was an exhilarating journey in translating the Cochrane reviews (with all the medical terminology) to Malay and I enjoyed it very much. Being a volunteer for Cochrane Malaysia also allowed me to join the Cochrane Crowd 2019. It was an honour for me to be able to join this Cochrane community. I hope that my small contribution to this translation project will increase public awareness about the current medical science research. Thank you Cochrane Malaysia, for this opportunitunity".

Adam Linoby, Senior Lecturer the Faculty of Sports Science (UiTM).(Universiti Teknologi MARA) (20 PLS)     
"I am happy and honored to be given this opportunity to get involved with this translation project as I believe this translation project will allow Malaysian to gain access to the information on healthcare evidence, and I also learned a lot throughout this project".    

Fairuz Fadzilah Bt Rahim, Lecturer, Department of Public Health Medicine (RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus)
(20 PLS)       
"I have been involved with Cochrane reviews Malay translation for couple of years, and now continue volunteering in editing the translation works. It is an honour to be part of the translation team. In the aim of reducing the language barriers, I hope all Cochrane evidence could be accessible to all Malaysian as they provide quality evidence-based choices on health and safety. Congrats to all for the achievement in 2019. This voluntary effort could seem small, but paid off if thousands of people could benefit from it". 

                                        Gold Editors

Professor Dr Noorliza Mastura Ismail, Professor of Dentistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College (226 PLS)   

“I am from the Department of Community Dentistry and always put community first. I am very passionate about translation work to ensure the dissemination of accurate scientific information. Hope this effort benefits the community”.

Associate Profesor Dr Tuan Hairulnizam Tuan  Kamauzaman, Head of Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (57 PLS)
"It has been a great pleasure to be part of the Cochrane Community all these years. I hope my contribution in the editing and translation of Cochrane PLS will benefit those seeking to make sound and evidence-based decision on health issues".   

Dr Rosnani Zakaria, Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia (57 PLS)   
"I started with Malay translation project since 2017 when Dr Teguh invited  USM staff who interested in becoming editor to involve in it. My motivation in continuing this project and try to increase my works each year got to be my love to share knowledge with the community".

Associate Professor Dr Norhayati Mohd Noor Public Health Physician (Family Health), School of Medical Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Site Coordinate for USM: an affiliate of Cochrane Malaysia  (56 PLS)

“I hope the Malay Cochrane translation would benefit and reach wide number of non-English speaking community”.                                           

Dr Mohd Shaharudin Shah Che Hamzah, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (56PLS)       
“Hi, I am actively involved in Malay translation project for quite number of years.  I am a senior lecturer in Emergency Medicine Department of School of Medical Sciences of USM and completed my PhD in disaster management specializing in terrorism. Also I am actively involved in a study as principle investigator and managed to secure quite number of grants and published many articles in local and international journal”.

                                        Bronze Editors

Professor  Dr Lai Nai Ming, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University Malaysia (29 PLS) 
"It is a gratifying opportunity to be able to continue helping with editing  Malay translation of important Cochrane reviews. I hope this meaningful initiative will bear fruit in increasing public awareness of the importance of seeking high quality evidence in answering their questions on health". 

Dr Ahmad Filza Ismail, Medical Lecturer, Department of Communty Medicine Strategic Manager, Business Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia  (28 PLS)   
"Doing 20 – 30 translations per year has made me keep up with the current terms being used in Malay language, some of the terms are rarely used but exist in the dictionary. I really appreciate the opportunities given by the Cochrane to be in the team. Hope to contribute again in the future".

Dato' Dr Teh Keng Hwang, Paediatrician and Paediatric Intensivist, lecturer in paediatrics, University Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah (UniSHAMS) ( 28 PLS )  
“I am privileged to be chosen to help with the translation of the reviews as it has kept me in touch with the latest research and widened my knowledge in Bahasa. I would be able to use this knowledge in my teaching:.

Dr Chan Mei Wai, Family Medicine, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus. (20 PLS) 
“I've been an editor for year. I enjoy the work and hope can continue contribute to it

Dr Intan Juliana Abd Hamid, Paediatrician and Clinical Immunologist focusing on the diagnosis and clinical management of children with primary immunodeficiency in Malaysia and Medical lecturer based in Institut Perubatan & Pergigian Termaju, USM) (20 PLS) 
"I do understand the challenges of deciphering heavy scientific reading materials during my PhD study. I am excited to be involved in Malay translation project so that more Malaysian public community can benefited from the esteemed journal publications".

                                        Special mention – Contributing Editor

A/P Azlan Husin, consultant physician and clinical hematologist in Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.. Currently I am also the Head of Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.  
"It is a gratifying opportunity to be able to continue helping with editing  Malay translation of important Cochrane reviews. I hope this meaningful initiative will bear fruit in increasing public awareness of the importance of seeking high quality evidence in answering their questions on health".