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Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR.
MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : JW MARRIOT HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 02/11/98
Tajuk/Title : THE DINNER SPEECH HOSTED BY THE
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES MALAYSIA
"SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY -- THE FOUNDATION TO OUR
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY "
I am honoured to be given this opportunity to
address a community of eminent Malaysian scientists,
engineers and technologists, a community which is of
utmost importance in the next phase of the country's
development and growth.
2. Science, engineering and technology (S.E.T) have a
pivotal role in the development of our economy. It is
through S.E.T that the Government will expect the growth
of the economy to be facilitated.
3. The emergence of a new global economic order --
unrestricted by geographical and political barriers --
will result in greater integration of the world economy.
Knowledge, skills, information and investment funds will
move around freely. Properly utilised these new
freedoms will bring about great prosperity for all.
However we have seen how the sudden pull out of funds
can result in the destruction of economies at a faster
rate than the build-up. And so the infatuation with
Science, Engineering and Technology must be accompanied
by an even greater adherence to morality and the higher
human values.
4. Today while there is a great deal of pressure for
the opening up of countries and markets to everyone,
there is not that much pressure for science, engineering
and technology to be made available to every country and
everyone. In fact the pressure to protect intellectual
property is greater today than at any time in history.
The machinery of international institution and those of
powerful national Governments are mobilised to protect
intellectual property rights as never before.
5. There seem to be something wrong in this. Why is
it that while markets cannot be protected, markets which
may be the sole asset of poor countries, intellectual
properties must be protected at all costs.
6. A choice must be made here. If we want to protect
intellectual property then we must also protect markets.
Alternatively we should insist on markets and
intellectual property to be equally free for everyone.
7. Science, Engineering and Technology are the results
of studies and research. Although research seem to
imply some mysterious inborn intelligence it is really a
matter of money and manpower. Today sophisticated
research laboratories can be set up by anyone but the
cost is prohibitive. The personnel are again easily
available if one is prepared to pay them.
8. Again here we see the impact of globalisation. Good
researchers can be recruited from any country to work in
any other country. There is no such thing as national
loyalty any more. If the right pay is offered,
researchers would be easily employed from any country in
the world.
9. Since poor countries have neither the costly
laboratories nor have they the ability to offer good
pay, they usually lose their researchers to the richer
countries. The loss in most cases is permanent as the
researchers are often offered citizenship as well. This
brain drain is very costly to the poor countries as they
will have to pay royalty for the results of research
carried out by their own nationals in other countries.
10. Research today is much more methodical and much
less dependent on individual genius. All that is needed
is fixing the objective and making a series of
modification to a product in order to improve the
results. The method is the same whether it be in
physics, chemistry, biotechology or whatever. Eventually
something worthwhile would be discovered or invented.
This way almost everyday something new is discovered or
developed.
11. Besides original research there are plenty of
opportunities for applied research. The original
discovery or invention may be done by someone else in
some other country but the application of the results
can be done elsewhere, including in developing countries
too poor to conduct original research. The cost of
applied research may also be high but there are ample
possibilities for low-cost applications.
12. Merely by catering to local conditions for
applications developed in the developed countries,
numerous modifications can be made and patented.
Although royalty may have to be paid for the original
research, at least there will be ownership of local
applied research results. Since most of the original
and applied research are being done in the temperate
climate, application in the warm humid climates of the
tropics can be studied and developed in these regions.
Tropicalisation is almost a science of its own and the
scientists in the tropical countries have the whole
country as a laboratory for testing in tropical
condition.
13. Then there are cultural and religious needs and
injunctions to be looked into. Muslims in particular
require certain facilities and conditions in the
products they use. Muslim and non-Muslim researchers
can look into modifications to suit Muslim needs and
requirements.
14. Malaysia is a developing country and has inadequate
funds for research, original or applied. The royalty
paid by Malaysia for imported technologies yearly is
very high. This is of course a drain on our foreign
exchange earnings. At this time of economic turmoil we
cannot afford this outflow of funds. We should
therefore develop our own technology and engineering
innovations. It will not only reduce the cost of
technology but we may even be able to export it to
reverse the flow of royalties paid. Malaysia would do
well to spend money on research, especially applied
research. The economic recovery can be speeded up and
we may emerge from the turmoil stronger.
15. The Seventh Malaysia Plan promotes a shift in the
national development strategy, from one that used to be
input-driven towards one that is productivity-driven.
This strategy is further emphasised in the Second
Industrial Master Plan. For growth to improve further,
the contributions from technical progress need to be
enhanced. The Government has therefore emphasised
research and development as well as accelerating the
application of information technology, particularly in
the development of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC).
It is envisaged that these improvements will lead to
increased productivity and enable the economy to
generate an output at a higher rate of growth vis-a-vis
resources availability and utilisation.
16. The realisation that productivity driven growth is
very much dependent on the S.E.T strengths, R&D inputs
and the capability of the people, has prompted the
Government to invest in S.E.T. The Government of
Malaysia has allocated RM1 billion through
Intensification Research in Priority Area (IRPA) in the
Seventh Malaysia Plan for the development of S.E.T. This
is an acknowledgment by the Government that our long-
term economic growth will be dependent on the increased
use of knowledge, technology, and skills to enhance
industrial productivity and competitiveness as well as
to improve the standard of living.
17. To realise our goals of ensuring continuous
scientific and technological development to support and
sustain high economic growth, accelerate industrial
development and build a society that is scientifically
and technologically advanced as envisioned in Vision
2020, the Government has put in place a S.E.T management
system that is aimed at harnessing the creation and
innovations in science and technology for economic
growth and development.
18. The S.E.T management system is created to satisfy
three main objectives, namely to stimulate scientific
curiosity, to develop new products and processes, and
applications and to realise the social benefits of
science and technology.
19. There are three components of the S.E.T management
system: the policy, infrastructure and finance.
20. The National Science and Technology Policy was
formulated to promote the use of science and technology
in economic development and improving the quality of
life of all Malaysians. It focuses on upgrading R&D
capacity and capabilities as well as improving the
scientific, educational and other relevant
infrastructure. The task of driving scientific and
technological development in this country is being
shouldered by the National Council for Scientific
Research and Development.
21. Within our S.E.T management system, we have created
institutions at various levels to ensure that there is
sufficient capacity, capability and financial resources
to undertake S.E.T programmes. Our national education
system is designed to provide trained manpower in S.E.T.
The various science, technical and vocational schools
across the country are meant to produce knowledgeable
and educated workers for the S.E.T system.
22. The Government has also established various
institutions to ensure that the S.E.T management system
delivers its result for the benefit of the nation.
MIMOS, Technology Parks, Kulim Hi-Tech Park, MIGHT,
MINDS, BAKSA, the various research institutions,
universities and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia are
parts of the S.E.T delivery system. To finance the
commercialisation of R&D results the Government has
established Malaysian Technology Development Corporation
(MTDC). MTDC functions as a catalyst in developing
venture capital and transfer of technology in Malaysia.
23. The Government is not hesitant to invest in R&D. We
have made a fairly large sum of money available. But
administering the fund is very complex. Administrators
find it difficult to invest Government funds in
something that cannot be quantified in the usual manner
and the results of which i.e. the return on the
investments, are not so tangible. The risk on the
investment appears high simply became the results cannot
be guaranteed and the usefulness of the result in terms
of application cannot be properly assessed.
24. It is especially difficult to assess the value and
the returns on basic research. Such research is not
directed towards application. In many instances the
applications will need research by other institutions.
Yet we know that in many advanced countries, basic
research has brought about huge returns for the nation
due to applications devised by commercial organisations
and their own applied research facilities.
25. It is therefore important for those in charge of
disbursing Government funds for research to acquire
expertise in evaluating research projects and to accept
a long payback period. Indeed in some cases we have to
accept that we should do research for the sake of
research without knowing the possible returns on the
capital outlay. There should not be too much of this
kind of research of course. But a certain amount should
be allocated for this.
26. I understand that there are a number of research
facilities which are hardly utilised. While the
equipments are provided for, there is a reluctance to
employ research or to allocate funds for research work.
This is indeed unfortunate. The institution concerned
should make a study of the facilities available and
determine how to utilise them more fully. If we don't
have enough researchers we should be willing to employ
foreign personnel. There is of course a risk of leakage
but it is a risk we have to take. After all developed
countries take all kinds of risks and have clearly
profited from them.
27. The latest effort by the Malaysian Government to
strengthen the country's economic position is the
establishment of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC).
Through MSC, Malaysia will compete in the new
information era. An explosive array of innovations
centering around telecommunications and informatics has
produced a revolution in information technology (I.T).
I.T will reorientate global commerce and redefine the
workplace. It will have a serious implication on the
labour market as demand will be on more knowledge
workers.
28. The Government realises that investment in I.T is
important as it is the central nervous system that will
sensitise all the other sectors of S.E.T. Through I.T.
the potential of other technologies can be realised,
creating subrevolutions in other areas.
29. Malaysia's technology agenda remains very broad but
focuses on the need to enhance efficiency and
effectiveness of our industry. The Government has long
recognised the importance of technology in poverty
eradication and ameliorating environmental problems. In
poverty eradication, relevant technologies can be
diffused into the target groups or community to improve
agriculture practises, increase food production and
provide better health care services and population
planning. For environmental problems, not only are
there new technologies, but even existing ones can be
modified to improve energy efficiency, exploration of
new forms of energy, better forms of transportation,
effective management of waste and new methods of
fertilisation.
30. For the past 41 years since independence, Malaysia
has made rapid technological evolution. From a
predominantly agriculture nation, we have transformed
ourselves into an industrialising nation. In preparing
the nation for the next phase of growth, the Government
is putting in place the fundamentals necessary for
launching the country into the information age.
31. For us to succeed further, mastering of Science,
Engineering and Technology is of paramount importance.
32. The Government remains committed towards promoting
S.E.T. We have formulated the policy, built the
infrastructure and allocated the financial resources.
But beyond that we need the scientific and industrial
community to push it further. To innovate and create;
to continuously challenge old thinking with new ideas;
to continuously search for new knowledge and solve
problems. We have to strive for excellence and in the
process transform Malaysia into one of the world players
in science and technology.
33. Scientists and researchers should capitalise on the
Government layout infrastructure and facilities to
deliver their results. Over the years, our scientists
have achieved major breakthroughs in various fields of
S.E.T. It will be for the benefit of all of us if the
Academy of Sciences Malaysia could take up the
initiative to document all these breakthroughs. Although
these breakthroughs are sporadic, it indicates that
Malaysia possesses scientists and researchers who are
capable of performing high level research.
34. Having said that, I challenge the Malaysian
scientific community to produce a Nobel Laureate by the
Year 2020.
35. I am very happy to note from the President's
Address that the Academy of Sciences Malaysia has been
very active at various fronts in promoting S.E.T in
Malaysia. I congratulate the Academy for adopting such
a proactive stand on various issues of S.E.T faced by
the country. The Government of Malaysia will continue
to seek opinions and suggestions from the Academy on
issues of S.E.T.
36. The Academy of Sciences Malaysia as the apex body
of science and technology in Malaysia has a very
important role to play. It should provide the platform
for scientists to channel their inputs and views into
the national development process and at the same time
provide coordination and direction to the scientific
community. This is the kind of leadership that the
Academy should play.
37. The Academy must prepare itself to play an advisory
role on S.E.T to the Government as well as the private
sector. The Government is always appreciative of the
fact that we can bounce off ideas with the relevant
individuals and institutions to ensure that our policies
and plans meet the desired objectives. The Government
too is open to constructive criticisms. Criticisms
should not be an end but a beginning in a search for
better solutions. In the area of S.E.T, the Government
expects the Academy to assume this role.
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