ALOR SETAR, March 1 (Bernama) -- A national science centre has been proposed for Sabah and Sarawak under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP), Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said.

He said other than encouraging creativity and inovation, building of the science centres was also in line with the Malaysian Innovative Plan 2010 (MI2010) launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak on Jan 27.

"The ministry will apply for government allocation under 10MP so that the two projects can start next year," he said after opening the Northern Region National Science Centre at Gunung Keriang near here Monday.

The RM30 million science centre, the first outside Kuala Lumpur, is equipped with sophisticated equipments. It began operation on July 1 last year and had been visited by 130,000 people.

Ongkili said the national science centre would help realise the national innovation agenda to spur an economy based on creativity and innovation.

More than 200 programmes including exhibitions, contests, workshops and talks have been planned in conjunction with MI2010 with the Malaysian Innovative Festival at Bukit Jalil in Nov as the climax.