By Ling Hui & Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, March 16: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is hopeful that Sarawak can one day produce Covid-19 vaccines.
“We didn’t expect to have Covid-19. Covid-19 is something new and it affects the whole world. I hope that one day, Sarawak can produce the vaccines for Covid-19,” he said.
Abang Johari said this when stressing on the importance of modern healthcare to the world, including Sarawak.
He said that is why the Sarawak government spent RM290 million to set up an infectious disease centre.
“Maybe there are other diseases coming, we need to be prepared. And we need Muslim scientists also to play their part particularly in the health industry,” he said when officiating at the International Conference on WAQF and Endownment 2023 and Health WAQF Fund held at The Waterfront Hotel here today.
Touching on waqf, a charitable donation of a property, a building or land to be used for the benefit of the public, Abang Johari said waqf contributions can be in a form which is not a physical asset.
He said waqf can also be done through promoting research and development (R&D) in Sarawak to stimulate critical thinking among Sarawakians.
For example, he said, the Sarawak government’s current active involvement in green energy generation and carbon trading to reduce the impact of climate change is one form of waqf using existing assets to eventually benefit the community at large.
“This is part of waqf, from the brain, that will benefit the society. Therefore, it is my view that when you want to do waqf, it is beyond buildings and property, but more on brain development,” he added. — DayakDaily
