GSIAC Project A Clear Success

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The high-impact project implemented following the first Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) meeting in New York three years ago, has shown clear positive results, Joint Secretary of GSIAC Prof Emeritus Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid said here Tuesday. Zakri, who is also Science Advisor to the Prime Minister said the initial projects included Smart Town and Smart Village which focused on balancing urban and rural development utilising green technology and information and communication technology, involving the Iskandar region in southern state of Johor. "Another project is Rimbunan Kaseh in Kuala Lipis which was launched by the Prime Minister in March and is being developed by IRIS Corporation Berhad. "The projects show that people with low incomes can still enjoy the best facilities and supplement their earning through agriculture," he said at a media briefing on the third GSIAC to be held in San Francisco, United States. The meeting, scheduled for Sept 23, will be chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak. In 2011, Najib who is GSIAC chairman, said for a start three instant projects could be implemented, namely, Smart Town and Smart Village which involved energy saving houses; a biomass project; and the development of human capital through scientific research at institutions of higher learning. "The results are already tangible. This is what they wanted to see. Firstly, on the smart town and smart village, secondly, on how we can transform oil palm industry waste into new products," he said. The GSIAC is part of the Malaysian government's value added effort to enable the country to progress from a middle income nation to a high income one as envisaged by the Economic Transformation Programme and New Economy Model. Its council members consist of officials from key ministries, corporate leaders, experts in cutting-edge fields and academics as well as from the New York Academy of Sciences President’s council members, who would provide Malaysia with the necessary advice to achieve its aspirations. -- BERNAMA