Ir. Academician Emeritus Prof. Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia

About

 

Dr. Chuah Hean Teik graduated with a BEng (First Class Honours), MEngSc and PhD in electrical engineering, all from University of Malaya, Malaysia. From July 1988-April 1997, he was on the faculty of the Electrical Engineering Department of the University of Malaya. From March-Nov 1994, he was a Fulbright Scholar at the Wave Scattering Research Centre, University of Texas at Arlington, USA. From May 1997–Jan 2008, Dr Chuah was a Senior Professor at the Multimedia University (MMU), during which he held various posts as Vice President (R&D and Academic Development), Dean of Engineering, and Director of Research. From June 2001-Jan 2008, he also assumed the duty of the Penang State Government Professor of ICT in MMU. He was President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia from 2008-2019, where he is now an Emeritus Professor. He was a member of the Disciplinary Committee Panel under the Advocates and Solicitors' Disciplinary Board, Malaysia (2004-2026). He is now a Consultant Professor to Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xian, China, a UTAR Council Member, Chairman of the UTAR Hospital Board; Independent Non-executive Chairman of public listed company ELSOFT Research Berhad in Malaysia, and a member of the Malaysian Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC).

 

His research interests include microwave remote sensing and applied electromagnetics. He has authored/co-authored more than 280 papers in international journals and conferences. Dr. Chuah has received many awards locally and internationally. Among them include the Professor Chin Fung Kee Gold Medal for Engineering Management in 1986, the inaugural Young Engineer Award by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia in 1991; 1990 Young Scientist Award at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) at Prague, Czechoslovakia; 1993 Young Scientist Award at the 24th General Assembly of URSI at Kyoto, Japan; 1995 Young Scientist Award (Industrial Sector) by the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment; 1999 Malaysian Toray Science Foundation Science and Technology Award for his contributions in the area of microwave remote sensing; 2002 Sterling Award from the Sterling Group of Universities (research-based universities in UK with engineering faculties) for his services to promotion of engineering profession; 2011 IET Malaysia Outstanding Achievement Award; Rotary Charity Foundation of Kuala Lumpur Research Gold Medal 2012 for excellence in original research and significant achievement in the field of electrical engineering; 2014 Distinguished Engineer Award by IEM Penang Branch, 2016 Taiwan Education Profession Medal for his contribution towards education and cultural exchange between Malaysia and Taiwan, 2017 Exemplary Leaders Award (Education Category) by The Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia; 2017 Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award by the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations; and the 2018 Distinguished Honorary Mentor Award by Myanmar Engineering Council. In collaboration with Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing, his research team working on "Paddy Monitoring and Yield Prediction System using Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies" won a Gold Medal at the 2003 Malaysian Science and Technology Expo, and a Gold Medal at the 32nd International Exhibition of Inventions at Geneva in 2004. For his significant contribution in engineering profession, he was awarded Honorary Doctor of Engineering by MMU in August 2013. He was inducted into the IEM Engineering Hall of Fame in 2019 for his outstanding professional achievements and contribution to the country, IEM and the engineeirng profession. He is recipient of 2019 FEIAP Engineer of the Year, and 2019 WFEO Medal of Excellence in Engineering Education. In 2021, Dr Chuah received the Chinese Government's Friendship Award, which is the People's Republic of China's highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's economic and social development, as well as effort in facilitating friendly exchanges between China and other countries in culture, education, science and technology. Dr. Chuah received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from Malaysian Professional Centre, the umbrella body for all professions recognised by legislative Acts of Parliament in Malaysia. In 2024, he was awarded the Distinguished Friend of Africa Engineering Award (Platinum Class) by Federation of African Engineering Organisations for his outstanding contributions to engineering education and practice in Africa via Africa, Asia and the Pacific (AAP) Accord framework, which have left a lasting impact for the continent's engineering landscape.

 

Dr. Chuah is an eminent technical leader. He is Past President of ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET) (2016-2022), Past President of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) (2011-2015), Past President of IEM (2009-2011); member of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (Feb 2018-Feb 2024); and current Chairman of FEIAP Standing Committee on Engineering Education, Chairman of Africa, America's and Asia and the Pacific (A3P) Accord Engineering Education Council, and Co-Chairman of the Africa, Asia and the Pacific (AAP) Accord Engineering Education Council. He is a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia (ASM); Distinguished Hon. Fellow of IEM; Hon. Fellow of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations, FEIAP and Myanmar Engineering Society; a Founding Fellow of the AAET and The Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World; Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, USA; and the Electromagnetics Academy, USA. He is also a Professional Engineer in Malaysia, a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council, UK; an APEC Engineer, International Professional Engineer and ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer; and Hon. Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. Dr. Chuah serves as reviewer for technical papers submitted to international journals such as Progress in Electromagnetics Research (PIER) Journal, and IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote Sensing. He was a Council Member of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (2008-2012) and ASM (2007-2011, 2014-2016). He also serves in Technical Committee or Advisory Committee of a few regional and international conferences and symposia.

 

Due to his technical expertise, he has been appointed to various committees at national level, which included:

  1. Member, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Ministry of Transport (2018-2024)
  2. Chairman, klia2 Independent Safety Committee (appointed by Minister of Transport Malaysia in Dec 2014) to review safety issues for KLIA2 Airport in Malaysia (2014-2015)
  3. Member, Malaysia Education System Review Panel, appointed by Government of Malaysia as one of the 12-member Panel to review the Education Blueprint of Malaysia (2012)
  4. Member of Selection Committee for Science and Technology Award and Science and Technology Research Grant, Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (2012-to-date)
  5. Member, Auditor Committee, Mahathir Science Award Foundation (2012-to-date)
  6. Member of Examination Committee for Science Education Award of Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (2006-2011)
  7. Member of the Independent Investigation Panel, Cabinet of Malaysia Government, for the Cameron Highlands Bus Accident (2011)

 

In recognition of his valuable services and contributions, he was conferred by the Governor of Penang an Order of Chivalry, Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri, which carries the title "Dato", in July 2005, and Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri, which carries the title "Dato Seri" in July 2023; and conferred the Panglima Setia Mahkota Award, which carries the title "Tan Sri", by the King of Malaysia, the Yang DiPertuan Agung, in September 2019.