BY TAN SRI OMAR ABDUL RAHMAN
CONCERNS have been expressed on many occasions in the print media about the current less than-desirable state of science, technology and innovation (STI) and research, development and commercialisation (RD&C) in Malaysia.
I have myself written about the “Academy of Sciences Malaysia’s Science Outlook 2015 and 2017” reports and have concluded that “The current status of our STI ecosystem is not one that engenders confidence for an ‘innovation driven, private sector led’ economy.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
And neither is it an encouraging situation for the scientific community in Malaysia, already disappointed by the lack of commitment to STI and RD&C in the Eleventh Malaysia Plan despite the emphasis on innovation”.
I also described the four scenarios for “Malaysia’s Different Paths towards 2020” developed by the Malaysian Foresight Institute at MIGHT in 2012, namely A Star is Born; Entrapment; Don’t Worry be Happy and Sealed in a Time Capsule.
I pointed out that in 2018 and from the perspective of STI, we are nowhere near the scenario of “A Star is Born”.
Instead we are in the unhappy position of “Don’t Worry be Happy” and “Sealed in a Time Capsule”.
This situation is borne by the findings of Science Outlook 2015 and 2017. I have urged the government of the day to take action to prevent us from a steady progress towards a possible fifth scenario of “Malaysia for Sale”.
The truth of the matter is that our STI has been at a standstill, if not actually in decline, since Tun Dr Mahathir retired as Prime Minister in 2003.
He was our supreme champion in STI and during his time there was much improvement in our STI ecosystem and many activities in new areas of technology and business development.
That period has been termed the golden age of science in Malaysia by a number of analysts.
The scientific community is jubilant at the return of Tun Dr Mahathir to head the new government.
This will be an opportunity for STI to be re-positioned as a national priority, to be supported by full capacity so that it will again become a major pillar supporting the national socioeconomic development programme of the new government.
But there is an urgent need to review the current status of the STI landscape, recognise weakness and take action on enhancing legitimacy, authority and capacity for the various STI-related apparatus now in existence.
An eminent scientists group or a sub-committee of the Eminent Persons Group could be established.
Better still is for Tun Dr Mahathir to helm a ministry of scientific and technological affairs – a portfolio now missing from the list announced.
This will be an appropriate second portfolio for the prime minister, befitting his role as a champion of STI, although it has been agreed by all and sundry that the prime minister should not be allowed to hold a second ministerial post.
I have for many years bemoaned the fact that while we have a fairly good capacity for science advice, that is not matched by a good capacity to receive and act on good advice.
By Tun Dr Mahathir taking up the STI portfolio the equation will be complete and we can look forward again to another golden age in STI in support of development in our beloved country.
NOTE: The author is a Senior Fellow, Academy of Sciences Malaysia.
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