Datuk Fadillah Yusof
KUCHING: Sarawak has the potential to set up a science park given its rich biodiversity of over 1,200 marketable specimen, said Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Fadillah Yusof.
As the only state in Malaysia having formed a biodiversity centre, all Sarawak has to pursue is to intensify its research and development to commercialise resulting products, he said.
“There is already an intention by the state government to set up a science park and we have to work out the details.
“Science park is normally set up and managed by the state and our ministry is helping in terms of advisory, consultancy and whatever assistance that is required by the state,” he told reporters during the Hari Raya open house at his residence in Petra Jaya Heights near here yesterday.
Fadillah, who is Petra Jaya MP, pointed out that Sarawakians should venture into biomass industry, viable due to the state’s rich biodiversity.
“I am talking about biomass because Europe is relying on bio-diesel. When they need the source, where do they get it? So what we can do is try to convert wastes in our rivers into something we can sell.
“This is a source of income that people do not realise. Just imagine (what) the Rajang River (has to offer), how much leftover (wastes) there if you go to Kapit and Belaga. If you can gather and convert them into something beneficial, that is the high-income economy that can benefit the community,” he said.
However, Fadillah could not tell the actual number of science parks in Malaysia but they had been set up and run by state governments.
The ministry and the state government will organise an innovation programme in Mukah next month to unearth talents and creativities at grassroots levels, he disclosed.He said the programme would comprise exhibition, seminar and innovation workshop where the ministry would gather experts and scientists to document products and services.
“From the documentation, they will then decide who and which products could be further researched on for industrial purposes.”
He added that ambassadors would also be identified during the ministry’s innovation programme to be held nationwide.