MALAYSIAN GOVT WILL DO UTMOST TO ADDRESS SHORTAGE OF SCIENCE TALENT - NAJIB

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- To address the shortage of scientific
talent in Malaysia, the government will do whatever it takes and provide
financial support for university research, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said Malaysia needed more scientists, researchers, innovators and
pioneers in the science and technology sector.

"In terms of manpower, to date, Malaysia had only achieved 18 per cent of
the Ninth Malaysia Plan which targets to have 60 researchers, scientists and
engineers for every 10,000 people in the workforce.

"The government is willing to do whatever it takes to address the shortfall
in scientific talent, besides providing appropriate institutional and financial
support for research in universities," added Najib.

The prime minister said this in his message in the souvenir programme for
the
16th Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) prize presentation Tuesday.

Najib said the sacrifices and long hours of hard work put in by scientists
and
researchers needed to be supported and encouraged for both public and private
entities.

Najib said the government wished to see Malaysians equipped with contemporary
skills and the right mindset to face the challenging future
of the rapidly-changing world.

To build the knowledge-based economy, greater emphasis would be given to
development programmes involving technology, innovation and discovery-driven.

"Being a critical part in this endeavour, research and development will
remain inconsequential, as long as they remain on bookshelves and stay
uncommercialised," he noted.

The MTSF prize was established since 1993 by the Japan-based Toray
Industries
to contribute to the progress and advancement of science and
technology in Malaysia.

This year's top science and technology awards were presented to Prof Dr Ong
Seng Huat and Prof Dr Tan Nget Hong, both from University of Malaya, who
received RM30,000 (US$8,774) each from MTSF chairman Law Hieng Ding.

Dr Ong, who heads the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, said the
development of a country's economy and industry depended to a great extent on
the prowess of its scientific advancement and innovation.

Feted for his research on image analysis and stochastic modelling, he said
the research environment had become increasingly conducive, yet more challenging
due to globalisation.

"Not only has the world economic axis shifted to the Pacific region but also
the scientific axis. In recent years, we see a great number of research papers
from this region appearing in top scientific journals.

"This is the reflection of the keen competition among countries in the
Pacific Region to advance their economy and industry, and against this backdrop,
it is imperative that applied fundamental scientific research in Malaysia should
be given impetus," Dr Ong said in his speech.

Dr Tan, who is from the Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, was recognised for his research on toxinology of snake venom, proteins
and enzymology and medical education.

-- BERNAMA