By Shikin Louis & Yee Mei
KUCHING, Oct 10: The Sarawak government will set aside a substantial amount as an allocation for research and development (R&D) in the Sarawak Budget 2024, says Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He recounted the State’s experience during Covid-19 crisis, stating that it was not easy for the State government to procure the vaccines despite having the money to do so.
This lesson, he said, had prompted the Sarawak government to establish a scientific research centre to carry out research on biodiversity resources in Sarawak, and gain the capability to at least produce vaccines.
“That is why we want our future Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) to be a state-of-the-art research facility.
“Even if we have to secure very expensive equipment to do research, I am prepared for that.
“In the next budget, of course we will give some more funds for research activities. I don’t want to mention the amount yet but we will give a substantial allocation for research including artificial intelligence (AI),” he said during Sarawak Research and Development Council’s (SRDC) 5th anniversary dinner held at a local hotel here earlier tonight.
Abang Johari also stressed that preparation is necessary for Sarawak as he warned against the possible emergence of extremely infectious diseases, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has placed under the umbrella term ‘Disease X’.
“I am not a doctor but I have read a little on how infectious diseases such as malaria and polio, started. Then, we got Covid-19.
“Today, we were told that there is a possibility of ‘Disease X’. It could be anything but let us be prepared for any eventuality,” he added.
The term ‘Disease X’ was coined by WHO in February 2018 on their shortlist of blueprint priority diseases to represent a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic.
In short, ‘Disease X’ does not refer to any particular disease, but rather serves as a placeholder name for future, as-yet unknown pathogens that may cause another pandemic, such as Covid-19.
Among those present were Deputy Premier-cum-Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn; Deputy Minister of MEITD, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis; Education Advisor at Sarawak Premier’s Office Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong and SRDC general manager Dr Peter Morin Nissom. — DayakDaily
