Idris (third left) presents a RM1 million research grant to Dr Annuar (fifth right). Also seen are Harry (third right), Yap (fourth right) and Aini (second left). — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee urges the state government to contribute to the budget of Sarawak Research Council to support researchers in their efforts.
He said on Wednesday that a new ordinance to establish the Sarawak Research Council will be tabled in the next State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in November.
“The objective of the Research Council is to become a platform to spur research activities in Sarawak.
“With the setting up of the council, the funding is important as it will support research and development (R&D) activities by researchers in Sarawak,” he added.
Dr Annuar said this at ‘The Translational Research: Sarawak Pepper Research Project and Development of Research Farm and Community’ at UPM Bintulu Campus. It was launched by Higher Education Minister Dato Sri Idris Jusoh here on Wednesday.
Some 400 farmers from Kuching, Bau, Serian and Lundu attended the event which witnessed the announcement of the development of ‘Sarawak Pepper Farm’ project on a 25-acre land at UPM Bintulu Campus.
The setting up of the Sarawak Pepper Farm @ UPM Bintulu is a research collaboration among UPM, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Reseach and Malaysia Pepper Board (MPB).
He pointed out that in advanced countries such as Korea, 4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was on R&D.
“The same with Germany in which 3.5 of its GDP is for R&D. Many of the developed countries continue to advance due to allocation and funding for research.
“In Malaysia, research in terms of GDP is not even close to 2 per cent while GDP for Sarawak is RM120 billion per year. If I ask for only 1 per cent or even 0.05 per cent of the GDP, it will provide RM50 million worth of research fund for Sarawak,” he said.
Once the Ordinance is approved, there will be 10 clusters of R&D including biotechnology, food security, pharmaceutical and many more, Dr Annuar added.
“This include pepper which will be made a niche product where we will give priority for R&D as we don’t want to drop further in ranking from fifth position, but at least improve our ranking to fourth to be on par with Vietnam,” he said.
Malaysia is the fifth largest pepper producing country in the world after Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Brazil.
“We have high quality pepper recognised in the world. Hence, I urge all farmers in Sarawak to give their fullest collaboration to UPM in developing Sarawak Pepper Farm,” he added.
He also believes that this initiative will bring huge benefits to farmers, especially those who have ventured into pepper planting in Sarawak.
Sarawak has a long history of pepper since the arrival of the White Rajah. One of the reasons he set foot on this shore was to obtain the pepper plant.
“However, history alone is not enough for us to advance. What we need to do is maintain this performance as the best quality pepper in the world.”
The state government, he added, was thankful for the big contribution from Ministry of Higher Education of a RM1 million funding to kickstart the project.
“I believe farmers involved in this project will benefit and will see their livelihood and income improve in the near future,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dato Mary Yap, UPM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Inderis, Higher Education director-general Ir Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir and MPB director-general Dr Harry Entebang were also present.