News at Home
Agriculture

Some 800ha of land in Beaufort and Sitapang will be developed for pineapple cultivation. The Sabah Land Development Board is set to begin planting on the first 100ha from next month. This five-year project was being carried out by the board with the cooperation of the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board and the landowners, said SLDB chief executive officer Jhuvarri Majid. Land clearing is expected to commence soon with the board's first priority is to ensure enough suckers (sulur tangkai) and slips (sulur bawah) so that they could be planted in other area

 

The Selangor Government is aiming at increasing state padi production by 50% through a series of measures which will see increased efforts in increasing product levels. Selangor is currently the top padi producer in the country, with 110,000 per harvesting being produced currently. The project is anticipated to see earnings of farmers increase from RM14,475 to RM20, 475.
         
Medical & Policy
The 1 Malaysia Clinics to be launched throughout the country will serve to illustrate the "1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now” mantra, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. According to th Prime Minister, the facility would be beneficial to the community and allow all everyone, regardless of race to have access to inexpensive treatment. The country’s first 1 Malaysia Clinic was opened at Lembah Pantai, and the second at Lembah Subang.
 
Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya (SDM) has set up a partnership with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) to rnake referrals of consenting patierits to each other. An agreement between both parties was inked earlier this month, which enables cancer patients from SDM's Cancer and Radiosurgery Centre and NCCS to get a second medical consultation and follow-up treatment from both centres. Sime Darby Healthcare Group chief executive officer Elaine Cheong said that the collaboration is to ensure a smooth and hassle-free process for SDM's and NCCS' patients. The cancer centre at SDM has since 2001 made great strides in acquiring the most sophisticated medical systems such as the 64- slice PETKT scanner and 3D high dose rate brachytherapy system.
 
The Malaysian biotechnology industry is expected to grow between 8 and 10 per cent in 2010, driven by an improved sentiment in the global economy and the emphasis on commercializing local products in the international market, say analysts. They said the growth would also be in line with the global biotechnology market; which will continue to increase in 2010. The analysts also predict the global biotech market to be worth around US$306 billion by 2013, with biotechnology set to become one of the most lucrative sectors in the Asia-Pacific region

 
Environment
The pygmy seahorse is under threat from the actions of overenthusiastic divers off the east coast islands of Sabah. Discovered at coral reefs at diving havens of Pulau Sipadan, Mabul, Bohay Dulang and Bodgaya five years ago, today the unique species are being threatened with endangerment as dive operators bringing divers to the sites. Up to 100 divers have been seen to congregate at the habitat, use flash to take pictures of the creatures and divers were even known to break off sea fans to move them into a better angle for their pictures.
 

The Rajah Brooke Birdwing in Ulu Geroh could disappear forever if its sanctuary continues to be disturbed by workers removing the Gopeng pipeline. Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (Frim) entomologist Phon Chooi Khim said the largest butterfly habitat in the area could only be salvaged if work was halted immediately. Since Dec 24, workers have been removing what is left of the century old Gopeng pipeline for scrap metal using excavators and other heavy machinery, and leaving the pipes next to the Ulu Geroh access road where the salt lick is situated. All that remains of the salt lick, where the butterflies used to congregate in the thousands to sip water rich in minerals, is just muddy ground.

           
Investment
A Taiwanese company is slated to be the first major investor in the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub in central Sarawak through its commitment in RM2 billion in investments through six wholly-owned subsidiaries. The company, Sea Party Technology Co. Ltd., will undertake prawn, chicken and egg farming, chlorella and other aquaculture activities. Sea Party has acquired 1,700 ha for its operations in the major halal hub.
 
 
Power shortage in Sabah can be resolved if the government provides better incentives for palm oil millers to generate renewable energy. Methane gas from mill sludge being used to fuel steam turbines is one of the cleaner alternatives for Sabah instead of installing coal-fired power plants. However, as millers require up to RM6 million to install methane gas trapping and steam turbine generators, much assistance is required from the government to facilitate the green energy initiative.