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| AgBiotech & Environment | |||||||||
The
good name of palm oil is being rehabilitated in the eyes of the world
and has been garnering much praise for its health benefits as a being
free of “bad cholesterol”. The negative image has been attributed
to a mass negative campaign in the 80s by US oil producers who targeted
the palm oil as being hazardous to health due to its higher saturated
fat content compared to soybean oil. Evidence soon proved the Americans
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Minister
of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin has
voiced his opinions that the potential of padi straw should be realised.
Two million tonnes of padi straw is being produced every planting season,
though most of this is being burnt, polluting the environment. According
to Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin, RM150 can be earned every 1.2 hectares,
from the straw they produced, and the private sector should develop
the technology to utilise the 700,000 hectares of padi planted each
season. |
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A biodiversity center in Sabah which will house samples of flora and fauna in the state is slated to be set up under Phase Two of the Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation programme to be carried out later this year. The center will not only serve as a bank for biodiversity, but also as a data collection center for research. The project is a joint initiative between the state government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and will target the Crocker Range Park, Sungai Kinabatangan and the Segama river basin. |
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The
mysterious identity of the orchid plucked deep in the jungles of Cameron
Highlands last year has been discovered. The orchid which was stumbled
upon by Embi Abdullah and his friend while trekking the Ruil mountains
has been confirmed to be a Monomeria barbata, which may be
unique to the country. It is an exciting breakthrough, as the genus
Monomeria has never been found in Malaysia before. |
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| Health & Medical | |||||||||
| A potential breakthrough in on the way, as a plant-based antiviral concoction against dengue will soon be available on the market. The innovative product, a herbal preparation made from plant extracts will soon be registered with the Drug Control Authority as a herbal product for fever. Known as Dengimm, it is a constituted local plant extract derived from a combination of eight herbal plants including Artemisia. Malaysia has been constantly plagued by dengue with 9579 cases and 25 deaths reported between January this year to 24th of February alone. |
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Current
statistics show that tuberculosis (TB) is the nation’s top killer
infectious disease with an incidence rate of 16,000 new cases a year.
The World Health Organisation has listed Malaysia at the “intermediate”
level following such incidence. Since 2000, the number of Malaysians
infected with the infectious disease has been steadily rising with more
than 900 deaths reported annually. Last year, 1,853 new cases were registered
among foreign workers making up a total of 11.1% of new cases registered
last year. |
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| Investment & Industry | |||||||||
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The
industry is abuzz as two biotech companies are to start operations in
Penang this year. The companies Progenix Research Sdn Bhd and Alpha
Biologics Sdn Bhd will start operations in March and September respectively.
Progenix and Alpha have been set up through Springhill Bioventures Sdn
Bhd whose parent company is Springhill Management, a UK-based biotechnology
venture capital company. |
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A
Penang delegation on an investment mission to India comprising of 15
government officials and 39 businessmen, headed by Penang Chief Minister
Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, is aimed at exploring possible joint ventures
with Indian companies and other potential business opportunities for
Penang-based companies. Apart from business programmes, Dr. Koh will
also call on high ranking officials including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Dr. Kalaigar M. Karunanidhi as well as several large biotech companies
in Chennai. |
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On
the other hand, the herbal industry has been gaining much focus as well.
Recently KBioCorp has been offering their assistance to players in the
herbal industry. KBioCorp was established for just such a purpose and
has been conducting tests and studies in their laboratories to improve
the quality of products. Conversely, FELDA, one of the biggest plantation
groups in the country has great plans in venturing into the herbal extracts
industry of India through a joint collaboration with Nandan Biomatrix
Ltd. The Hyderabad-based nutraceuticals company, in turn, aims at expanding
its business activities in the international market in a 50:50 joint
venture company with FELDA. |
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| Policy | |||||||||
The Biofuel
Industrial Bill is set to be debated at Parliament by lawmakers in
May. The bill, which is a draft of rules for the biodiesel industry
in Malaysia is slated to become an Act with royal assent by the end
of the year, and would empower the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
Then MPOB would have the authority to issue and revoke biodiesel production
and export licenses, enable vehicles in the country to use palm oil-based
biodiesel, set ceiling prices as well as directing petrol stations
to sell green oil.
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“Slash the red tape!' That is the message conveyed by Director-General of Health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican. He believes that Malaysia is an ideal location for clinical trials for new and improved drugs due to its diverse population. However, big companies are skirting the country due to the amount of bureaucracy involved in the approval process. However, it is obvious that patients in clinical trials have a lot more to gain as drugs are safe by the time they hit our shores. |
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