Council to boost research to be set up soon

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 30 (The Star) -- THE Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry is setting up a National Science and Research Council to look into priority areas for research.

It would also seek to ensure that research grants would be given in a more transparent manner, minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said.

“Since research and development are important in driving the economy and transforming a middle-income nation into a high-income one, the allocation for research and development will be a focus for the 10th Malaysia Plan,” he told Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan).

Replying to Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), Dr Ongkili said based on the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009, Malaysia was ranked 39th in the world with US$1bil (RM3.26bil) in Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) or 0.64% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Among Asian countries, Malaysia ranked sixth after Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

Nevertheless, Malaysia’s position was better than Thailand’s which was ranked 44th with US$498mil (RM1.62bil) or 0.2% of the GDP, he said.

Dr Ongkili said private sector contribution to a high 85% of the total R&D expenditure in Malaysia compared with the United States (72%), Japan and South Korea (77%).

The Government, he said, would increase allocations for research under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Dr Ongkili also said that a night briefing was being planned during the next Dewan Rakyat session to explain to interested MPs the outcome of micro gravity research conducted in space.