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AgBiotech
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Being the world’s
largest exporter of palm oil and oil palm products, Malaysia
has come very far since the days oil palm first arrived into
the country. Introduced from London’s Kew Gardens in 1987,
the oil palm was brought in to serve as an ornamental plant
and was planted on roadsides and around governmental buildings
for their aesthetic value. From this botanical ornament came
the
golden crop which developed into today’s economical
giant which launched Malaysia into the annals of a best.
One very good example
of this is the current development of a
bio-diesel plant in Labu, Negeri Sembilan which
would be ready in three years. The pilot project aims to provide
a operational factory to manufacture bio-diesel products in
the country. The initial projected yield of the factory would
be 5,000 metric tones a month. However, according to Plantation
Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui,
the Malaysian Palm Oil Board Research Station and Golden Hope
Plantations joint venture would start by targeting the export
market due to the high demand abroad.
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In
other news, MARDI has announced a breakthrough which may help
revive the flagging Malaysian papaya industry. The discovery of
a resistant gene that may help papayas fight the
papaya ringspot virus, a disease that ravaged Johorean
papaya plantations in 1991, almost crippling the RM60 million
industry. For the innovation, Dr. Vilasini Pillai and her team
of researchers have been awarded the gold medal at the 33rd International
Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products in Geneva
last week. |
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Medical
& Health
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Currently,
the Ministry of Health is on full alert as 589 cases of
typhoid have been reported in Kelantan as of the 28th
of April, with 300 new cases on that day itself. Meanwhile Negeri
Sembilan is on
typhoid alert as three suspected cases were reported.
It is suspected that poor sanitation and water supply systems
are the main culprit behind the spread. State health authorities
are now focusing on screening children below 15 years old as most
of them being students have a tendency of consuming food sold
outside. |
In an intiative by the
Kelantan state UMNO to help detect and curb
the disease,
anti-typhoid inoculations were conducted on 600 people
at the Ketereh wet market in Kota Lanas, Kelantan. The programme,
organized with the help of Health Department hopes to nip the
rise of typhoid cases in the bud and raise awareness of the disease.
Kelantan state UMNO chairman Datuk Annuar Musa promises to provide
additional inoculation programmes soon, in three more places; Kota
Baru, Tumpat and Bachok.
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Aptly
timed, researchers at USM have released the world’s first
rapid diagnostic kit for typhoid, named
TYPHIRAPIDIgM. The kit, produced by a research team headed by Prof.
Asma Ismail would be used to help the Kota Baru Hospital in Kelantan
to tackle the outbreak of typhoid cases in the state.
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Industry
& Investment
The Malaysian biotech
policy is a three-phased approach into what would be Malaysia’s
bid into the lucrative and potentially strong industry. With current
climate encouraging the setting up of the biotech industry, the Government
is encouraging investors to look into
industry prospects as a lucrative form of business. Science
Advisor to the Prime Minister Tan Sri Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus argues that
businesses would be able to expand and develop the industry through
market-driven initiatives.
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Among
the payoffs slated in the policy, investors would very likely be given
tax incentives. Tax write-offs that can be subtracted from
tax-deductible profits for the parent companies in the event of loss
are among the various forms of encouragement the Government is giving
out. Retired scientists are also encouraged to continue their research
with R&D funds and grants that would given out. |
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One
good example would be that of the
commercialization of USM’s biotechnology-based test kits.
The kits, which test for tuberculosis, dysentry and cholera are set
to be unveiled in the near future as negotiations are in the works between
USains, the university’s commercial arm, and Malaysian BioDiagnostics
Research Sdn. Bhd. The firm, who has launched a
rapid typhoid test kit recently, coincidentally timed with
the recent outbreak of typhoid in Kelantan is making waves in the industry.
MBDR is a local biotechnology company marketing homegrown research and
launching them onto the international market. |
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With
the launch of the Malaysian Biotechnology Policy on the 29th of April
this year, the
lagging industry has been given a shot in the arm with the
various incentives being offered. Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi, comprises of three phases which will span from 2005 to 2020.
Nine thrusts were also identified to specify the major aims and general
direction of the policy. |
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The boost will be seen to
expand upon currently existing options, by enriching available
structures and introducing incentives like tax breaks and financial
support.
Industry players have lauded the move as a strong sign of
serious commitment to back the development of the multimillion industry,
The push is speculated by many to be followed by expansion in an industry
that has seen many ups and downs in the recent years. Many voiced opinions
that such growth would only continue with governmental backing, cautioning
that without such assistance, it would share the same fate as the now
defunct BioValley.
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