Kota Kinabalu (Friday) -The Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) today received a courtesy visit in Wisma SEDIA by Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The meeting with Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili and his delegation this morning was received by Chief Executive Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub and include several senior staff of SEDIA.

Whilst giving his opening remarks prior to the briefings, Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili explained that whilst the invitation for him to visit SEDIA had been extended to him for some time, and that he had actually accepted it, his decision that this was the most opportune moment to do so was based on the recent cabinet briefing held on the digital economy and development corridors a few weeks ago. Apart from Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus, the delegation also comprised of officials from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), representatives from MOSTI clusters, and the Chief Executives of MIMOS, Biotech Corp, SIRIM, Cyber Security Malaysia, MDeC, NIBM and TPM Sdn Bhd.

The visiting delegation was briefed on the key aspects of the Sabah Development Corridor, including the current status of projects undertaken by SEDIA under the SDC. These will include the SDC flagship projects such as the Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct, and the palm oil-based Agropolitan projects which are of benefit to the poor within the communities. In science and technology-related areas, the delegation was also briefed on the latest progress and development of MOSTI’s Technofund project implemented by SEDIA which included the development of production protocols to commercialise production of tea tree, a herbal medicine knowledge base and satellite biotechnology project. Also of key interest are the Entry Point Projects (EPPs) approved following the Corridors and Cities lab, of which will be unveiled to the public in an upcoming State Open day event to divulge the outcomes derived from the lab.

During the discussion that followed the briefing, MIMOS Chief Executive Officer Dato Abdul Wahab Abdullah suggested that SEDIA be the custodian for certain ICT platforms so as to achieve better information sharing between all related parties. Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus too commented on the importance of monitoring projects in the oil & gas sector carefully, as this sector “is capable of bringing much wealth to the state but our human capital is still at a young stage where it cannot yet fully capitalise on it”.

The visiting delegation also presented a briefing to Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili, on a local product called a TAL kit. The function of the TAL kit, sourced from Amoebocyte Lysate obtained from a Malaysian horseshoe crab species, Tachypleus gigas, is to detect the presence of endotoxin contamination in injectable and implantable drugs and devices, and also test the purity of medicine for rapid clinical diagnosis. Cyber Security Malaysia Chief Executive Dato’ Husin Hj Jazri also presented new services such as Cyber Clinic, which focuses on improving security and safety of digital devices, and also offering training to professionals in the technology sector.

Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus also commented that what is relevant here for MOSTI are the projects involved in the knowledge, biotechnology and industrial technology sectors, and how MOSTI can collaborate in these three sectors with SEDIA. Following this, Datuk Dr. Mohd Yaakub explained that the projects mentioned so far are those that have been included as Entry Point Projects (EPPs), and once the entry system has been put in place, more projects will continue to be included in the list.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili told reporters that SEDIA has done well to ensure the technology-oriented sectors will continue to thrive, and if coordination of projects continues to be done well that Sabah is well on its way to achieving Vision 2020. For the year 2012-2013 under the Second Rolling Plan of the Tenth Malaysia Plan, SEDIA will continue to carry out the outstanding Sabah Development Corridor projects, and will implement new projects including those EPPs under the Regional Cities and Corridors National Key Economic Area. SEDIA’s programmes under the Second Rolling Plan will be guided by the SEDIA Corporate Plan 2012-2013. During this period, SEDIA will accord greater emphasis on measures to realise planned investment and promote investment in industries with the potential to generate higher value-add to Sabah’s economy. -SDCMedia