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November 16, 2009 21:21 PM

Malaysia Needs To Speed Up Biotechnology Plans

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia which aims to be a successful global biotechnology hub, should speed up the implementation of its plans so that it can be on par with other hubs like Europe, US, Taiwan and China, says Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd (Biotechcorp).

Its Chairman, Tan Sri Ahmad Zaharudin, said some of these would include setting up a world class research and development centre for the scientists to work, paying well for the best minds to come to Malaysia and speeding up the commercialisation of a biotechnology innovations from laboratory to the market place.

"Malaysia has to set up world class biotechnology centres and excellent laboratories to attract the best brains from all over the world, change the wage policy to pay the scientists output. To put it bluntly, we can't pay them peanuts," Ahmad Zaharuddin said at a media briefing here today. The briefing was also attended by the members of the International Advisory Panel-Biotechnology here Monday.

Ahmad said this when summarising the suggestions made at the IAP meeting earlier today. The IAP meeting was chaired for the first time by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

All the recommendations made at today's IAP meeting would be forwarded to the government which may implement some of the proposals to further boost the biotechnology industry.

Ahmad said there was a need to speed up the plans, buy the best technologies and get them up fast.

Meanwhile, University of California director Dr Regis B. Kelly said Malaysia could emulate China which is looking into getting 40,000 of its scientists working overseas back to China by setting up innovation centres and giving them leadership roles.

Burrill & Company managing director Dr Roger Wyse meanwhile said Malaysia, which is one of the biggest producers of palm oil, should push up the sector further.

"But so far no new innovation has come out of the sector. Malaysia's plantation companies need to inject a lot of new innovation to boost the country's economy and make higher profit by using biotechnology to increase productivity, minimise waste, modify and improve the oil," he said.

Other members of the IAP include Australia's Curtin University Technology Emeritus Chancellor Dr Eric Tan, Ernst & Young senior advisory partner Scott Morrison, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology president Dr Young-Hoon Park, Massachusetts institute of Technology professor of Biotechnology Dr Anthony J. Sinskey and Novartis AG member of board of directors Alexandre F. Jetzer-Chung, UK'S University of Aberdeen Professor Anne Glover and University of Tokyo Professor Emeritus Dr Kein-Chi Arai.

-- BERNAMA

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