In an interview with The Brunei Times, Jayl expressed his joy to have received the medal, but felt that there were others who contributed more to the research works on Borneo. He hoped his award would encourage others to take up research work as well.

 

"I hope this kind of award will encourage the younger researchers to take up research work when they finish their education. There is so much that Borneo has that we need to discover. We need to relook at what we have, our cultural heritage, our environment”, said Jayl.

 

The award citation noted that the Medal of Excellence was awarded to Jayl in acknowledgement of his many contributions to the anthropological understanding of Borneo and his life-long dedication to human and indigenous rights, his work in codifying customary law, his humanitarian concerns as a scholar and active citizen, and unstinting commitment to forest conservation and the sustainable management of Borneo's natural resources.

 

As reported in the Brunei Times, Jayl was born into the Lun Bawang community at Long Semado in the present-day Limbang Division of Sarawak. His father and grandfather were both community leaders and in the Lun Bawang cultural tradition, leaders are expected to set an example for others by their hard work, selflessness and commitment to common good.

 

Following graduation from Tanjong Lobang College in Miri, Jayl was recruited into the Sarawak Administrative Service where he served for over 10 years. It was during his years as an administrative officer, Jayl developed his initial interest in ethnography, customary law and indigenous systems of adjudication and leadership and these interests remain at the forefront of Jayl's anthropological writings, a major portion which focus on the Penan and on smaller, formerly little-known Orang Ulu groups of the Belaga, Limbang and Baram districts. 

 

In 1978 Jayl travelled to Canada and earned a Bachelor Degree in anthropology from McGill University and a Masters Degree in community development from University of Alberta. Jayl returned to Sarawak in 1983 and was appointed to the Sarawak State Planning Unit, the chief social policy and research arm of the state government where he served until 1991.

 

WWF Heart of Borneo Global Initiative congratulates Jayl on this outstanding award!