Nerdy Science Blog

“The Science and Technology System of Malaysia” is a good overview of Malaysia’s science and technology system written by V.V. Krishna.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) is the lead ministry that formulates policies in the area of science, technology and innovation. MOSTI also implements many programmes related to the promotion of S&T and national R&D activities. The National Council for Scientific Research and Development (NCSRD) is an advisory body comprising high-level representatives from the public and private sectors as shown in Figure 1. The main function of the NSCRD is to provide advice and directions on S&T policies and S&T priorities. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation acts as the secretariat to the National Council of Scientific Research and Development (NSCRD). The Council is chaired by the Chief Secretary to the government. Representations include the universities and public research institute and key central government agencies, and the private sectors. This council meets three to four times a year to deliberate on matters related to research and scientific advancement.

The paper helps the reader to understand the governance system of science and technology, fundings, policies, schemes, programmes, commercialization opportunities, history and development of science and technology in Malaysia.

There are some updates since the publication of that paper, but it is a nice paper to understand the science and technology system of Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Innovations (MOSTI) has allocated RM4 billion fund for science and technology research.  The research works involve food production, agriculture and bio-fuel industry.  However not all fund will go into research and development, part of the fund will be used for commercialisation projects.  MOSTI Deputy Minister, Fadillah Yusof said that the fund will be given to private and public institutions, and private researchers.

(news)

Read this from kj’s blog, a fellow blogger I’d know for sometime through online. He was asking why are we (Malaysia) cannot be down-to-earth in sciences, in respond to one of our previous posts, Malaysian Cabinet Really Wanted To Send Another Space Traveller, wrote by WTJ.

I attended a seminar talking about the management and policy in science area. Too bad I don’t have management background to understand all the management and policy terms/thingy, I can barely understand what were they talking about. Otherwise I would have share it.

But the Q&A section was pretty fun, some of the audiences pointed out certain general issues that have long bothering us.

Read more »

MOSTI to retain policies under new minister
By : Farrah Naz Karim

PUTRAJAYA, Mon:

The new Science, Technology and Innovation minister has promised that old policies will stay. Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said he will be meeting department heads over the next month to keep track of the progress of ongoing programmes and those in the pipeline.

“Only then can we think about new initiatives that need to be carried out to stir the people’s interest in science and technology,” he said at a handing-over-of-duties ceremony at his ministry here, formally taking over from former minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis. Also present was newly-appointed deputy minister Fadillah Yusof.

On the top of Ongkili’s agenda is the need to dispel the notion among some that science and technology was only for the elite and those trained in the fields.

On plans to send Mej. Dr Mohd Faiz Khaleed to the international space station (ISS) in 2011, he said it would go on as planned.

He said the Malaysian Space Programme would also have value-added factors to increase public awareness of advancements in science and technology.
“All programmes under the Ministry would be value-added so that the importance of science and technology will reach rural folk,” he said.

No more Space Programme in Malaysia please. This is one of the reasons for the defeat of ruling coalition in recent election. Please fund more to research labs in stead of sponsoring more people to space travelling. Please increases the salary paid of researchers in Malaysia to attracts more people coming back Malaysia to work and also being more productive.

(news)