By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Nov 2: The Sarawak government has committed to spending RM200 million to construct Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), a world-class biomedical research facility with a BSL3 laboratory which will be operational by Dec 2024.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised this today in his address at the Official Launch of the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) Research and Development (R&D) Symposium 2022, at a local hotel herr.
“The SIDC will be outfitted with cutting-edge devices and machines, as well as analytic programmes, to allow scientists to conduct research.
“At the same time, they can look into the possibility of using our biodiversity to develop medical products, vaccines, and other solutions to diseases that we face today,” Abang Johari said.
He said Sarawak had learned a lesson as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“That is why, under my leadership, the Sarawak government has a specialised allocation for R&D,” he added.
Abang Johari also stated that SIDC will work closely with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Imperial College London, Oxford University, and Monash University Malaysia.
“Moreover, we are creating job opportunities for Sarawakian scientists to return and contribute to the development of the biomedical industry in Sarawak, as well as ensuring Sarawak is prepared to face the next pandemic and other infectious disease threats, both foreign and domestic,” he added.
Also present were Deputy Premier of Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, MEITD Sarawak (Higher Education and Innovation) deputy minister Dr Annuar Rapaee, MEITD Sarawak (Talent Development) deputy minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, and SRDC general manager and SRDC R&D Symposium 2022 organising chairman Dr Peter Morin Nissom. — DayakDaily
