Author: itadmin

PETALING JAYA: Yeo Bee Yin is a person who matters to the environment, according to scientific journal Nature Research.

The Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister was named in “Nature’s 10”, a list that celebrates 10 people who mattered this year. 

Labeling Yeo a “force for the environment”, Nature celebrated Yeo as a strong voice against plastic pollution.

“Since taking office on July 2, Yeo has made several bold steps in reforming how Malaysia manages its environment and research,” it said.

It highlighted Yeo’s efforts to reform the electricity market and her battle against plastics pollution, which parallels an escalating global concern over single-use plastics.

“On Oct 31, Yeo launched a 12-year roadmap and legal framework towards eliminating single-use plastic in Malaysia by 2030, which also calls for research and commercialisation of eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable plastics,” it said.

Reefcheck Malaysia general manager Julian Hyde told Nature that Yeo’s efforts and roadmap was over a realistic time-scale.

“Yeo said that by funding local research and adopting foreign techniques, Malaysia can develop the technology for biodegradable plastic,” it said.

The journal featured a quote by Yeo: “Some people think of problems to solutions, and not solutions to the problem… When business as usual is not possible, you find another solution.”

Original article featured in The Star, article can be accessed here

KUALA LUMPUR: France and Malaysia have agreed to create a joint funding programme for the innovative development and high-level joint research projects, known as Hubert Curien Partnership France-Malaysia Hibiscus (PHC Hibiscus).

The first call for the projects will be sent out in February next year, the French Embassy here and the Malaysian Education Ministry said in a joint statement which made available to Bernama today.

French Ambassador to Malaysia, Frederic Laplanche who officiated the launch on Wednesday has highlighted the ongoing efforts on the research partnership of the two countries.

“Higher Education and Research Cooperation is a major component of the French diplomacy. The research cooperation has advanced for the last 35 years, it involves over 60 researchers from each country working with 20 Malaysian universities and 50 French universities or laboratories from prestigious French research institutions.

“The PHC Hibiscus programme is meant to intensify further our efforts and to imagine and prepare future developments,“ he said.

The partnership between Malaysia’s Higher Education Department and Education Ministry, with the French government, aims to support research projects carried out jointly by Malaysian and French teams, particularly by facilitating knowledge exchanges between researchers, lecturers, post-doctoral and PhD students of both countries.

The cooperation will develop synergies between the research communities of the two countries in order to create structured and sustainable high standards research networks recognised at the European and international level.

The PHC Hibiscus involves academic partners as well as private companies to develop common research on environment, biodiversity, sustainability of agriculture landscape, green chemistry, natural substances, computer sciences and data analysis, nuclear and material physics, food behaviour and health, sciences engineering, social and political sciences or archaeology. — Bernama

French Ambassador to Malaysia, Frederic Laplanche. — Bernama

Original article featured in The Sun Daily, article can be accessed here.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma) is hopeful of achieving more than 10 per cent export growth to RM18 billion this year, as global demand surpasses supply.

“This year, rubber glove exports should expand by more than 10 per cent to RM18 billion, from last year’s RM16.20 billion,” said Margma president Denis Low Jau Foo.

“In the first two months of the year, we have shipped out RM2.86 billion worth of gloves. That is 12 per cent more than last year’s first two months of RM2.54 billion,” he told NST Business in an interview here.

Margma represents 90 per cent of local glove manufacturers. Malaysia is the world’s top supplier of rubber gloves. All over the world, rubber gloves are used in the healthcare, food-handling and other industries.

Glove-making giants listed on Bursa Malaysia include Top Glove Corp Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Supermax Corp Bhd and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd. They export medical gloves, a healthcare necessity, to over 190 countries.

BIMB Securities Research has a ‘buy’ call on Top Glove’s shares and thinks the glovemaker’s share price can rise as high as RM11.40 from the current RM9.85. The analyst is bullish on Top Glove’s earnings as it will book in higher profits, following the purchase of sizeable rival Aspion Sdn Bhd.

MIDF Research maintained its ‘buy’ call on Supermax as the glovemaker is receiving higher glove orders from China and eastern Europe. Supermax’s new glove production lines in Klang are expected to come onstream in the quarters ahead to meet these additional demand.

Hong Leong Investment Bank rated Kossan as ‘neutral’ and sees its share price inching up further to RM8.90 from the current RM8.70, citing the glovemaker’s subdivision of one share into two by the third quarter of this year will promote liquidity. Kossan’s additional lines of three billion pieces will boost this year’s revenue and earnings.

JP Morgan placed a ‘neutral’ outlook on Hartalega as it felt that upside volume and earnings is hampered by the glovemaker’s capacity constraint. Hartalega’s 1-for-1 bonus issue which has taken effect by the end of the first quarter has buoyed the share price at a high of RM6.20.

In giving a better insight into the business, Low cited Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council’s (MREPC) data highlighting global consumption rate of medical gloves is averaging at 25 pairs.

In China, however, the per capita usage is only four pairs while in India, it is three pairs.

“There’s room for growth in Malaysia’s rubber glove exports, especially from emerging markets. MREPC and MARGMA are working very hard to help raise hygiene awareness in the healthcare sector,” he said.

“Hospitals, dental clinics and nursing homes are placing more orders of medical gloves for the protection against cross contamination among healthcare workers and patients alike.”

“The industry’s ability to consistently churn out high quality medical devices at affordable pricing through innovation ensures our global lead,” he added.

When asked on challenges the industry faces, Low noted as the ringgit strengthens against the US dollar, manufacturers have no choice but to raise glove prices accordingly to protect shareholders’ interests.

“It is normal for manufacturers to pass on costs to buyers as we work on a cost-plus basis. The production of medical gloves is capital intensive and the return on investments is the driver for the industry’s sustained growth,” he said.

Original article featured in New Straits Times, article can be accessed here.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) – Malaysia remains Taiwanese companies’ favourite investment destination, judging from the cumulative investment of US$12.4 billion (US$1 = RM3.94) as at last September, said Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia Representative James Chang Chi-Ping.

He said the Taiwanese investors were mainly involved in the manufacturing, electronic, biotechnology and high-technology related sectors, investing about US$110 million in Malaysia in 2016.

“We believe the value would be even greater for 2017, as an electronic investment of about RM1 billion alone had been approved last year,” he told reporters after officiating the second edition of the Taiwan Excellence 2018 here, today.

The three-day event, starting today, serves as a promotional platform to raise awareness and interest among Malaysians on Taiwan’s breakthroughs, culture and traditions.

About 100 products ranging from beauty, home living, sports, as well as information and communications technology from 33 Taiwanese companies are being showcased at the event.

Chang believes with the strong presence of Taiwanese firms totalling 1,700 in Malaysia, coupled with the New Southbound Policy launched in August 2016 and close relationship between the two economies, the two-way trade would grow about 10 per cent in 2018 from US$17.56 billion last year.

In his opening remarks, Chang said Taiwan’s total imports from Malaysia rose 14.5 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to US$7.19 billion last year, while exports to Malaysia jumped 32.7 per cent y-o-y to US$10.67 billion.

“Malaysia was Taiwan’s seventh largest trading partner in 2017 (2016: eighth), while Taiwan was Malaysia’s fourth largest investor after Japan, the United States and Singapore last year,” he said.

On halal segment, Chang said 150 hotels and restaurants in Taiwan, as well as more than 800 Taiwanese products had obtained the halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia thus far.

“We will continue our efforts to make Taiwan a Muslim-friendly destination,” he said, adding that Muslims made up one-tenth of the 528,000 Malaysian tourist arrivals on the island last year.

Original article featured in New Straits Times, article can be accessed here.

Photo credits: The Star
On 27 October 2017, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the Budget for 2018 in Parliament. Here are some of the notable highlights for the lab equipment market:
Education Sector:

• RM400 million for research and development grants is provided to Public Higher Learning Institutions (IPTAs), compared with RM235 million allocated previously
• Special allocation for University of Malaya to achieve the status of Top 100 Universities in the World

Healthcare Sector:

• RM2.5 billion to be allocated for medical supplies
• RM1.6 billion for consumable and medical support items
• RM1.4 billion is allocated for upgrading and maintaining healthcare facilities, medical equipment and ambulances.
• A sum of RM100 million is allocated to upgrade hospitals and clinics, including wiring systems
• Construction of international forensic medical service centre at Kuala Lumpur Hospital with a cost of RM380 million

The full budget speech can be read The Star article here.
Further details on the healthcare sector can be read from MIMS Today article here.

PETALING JAYA: Public universities will be receiving a substantial boost in grants for research and development (R&D) purposes.

Describing R&D as vital in bolstering innovation and knowledge, Universiti Malaya (UM) deputy vice-chancellor (Research & Innovation) Prof Dr Noorsaadah Abd Rahman said the budget increase would provide the opportunities for Malaysia to compete at a global level.

“If Malaysia intends to be a developed, high-income nation, we need to have our own knowledge and technology rather than continuously buying them from other countries.

“Without R&D, we will be forever subservient to others,” she added.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice-chancellor Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Said thanked the Government for the huge increase in the R&D allocation for public universities.

“This will enhance research capabilities and provide greater opportunities for innovation and commercialisation by local researchers,” he said.

He added the R&D allocation would also put local universities on par with many top foreign universities.

Educationist Datuk Dr T. Marimuthu said the 7% target for Indian students to enter higher education institutions, is much needed.

“We need a quota system for now because many Indians are in the B40 category, or bottom 40% of households.

“Eventually our students must compete on merit but for now, we need help.

“Ensuring that Indians have a place in university is important but the government must also address the social-economic issues plaguing the community,” he said, adding that many Indians drop out of school without sitting for the SPM.

“They have the brains to compete on merit but issues like poverty and social ills among the youth must first be addressed,” he said.

• Research and development grants to public universities increased to RM400mil from RM235mil allocated in previous budgets.
• Special allocation for Universiti Malaya to achieve Top 100 Universities in the World status in the near future.
• RM90mil for MyBrain Programme for 10,600 individuals to further their studies in Masters and PhD.
• New intake of Indians to public universities will be increased to a targeted 7%.