Abg Jo: Planned amendments to Sarawak Biodiversity Ordinance will aid research, allow for commercialisation
Abang Johari (centre) launches the Vision with Action for Biodiversity: Policy and Plan. He is flanked by Abu Bakar (right) and Abdullah. – Ukas photo
KUCHING (April 23): The state government plans to amend the Sarawak Biodiversity Ordinance to facilitate research and allow for the commercialisation of biodiversity research findings.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this amendment would enable the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) to commercialise its research.
He explained that the existing Ordinance restricts SBC from commercialising its research, thereby limiting the state's potential to generate revenue from its biodiversity resources.
He cited Sarawak's ongoing initiative to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using microalgae, in which SBC is actively involved.
'SBC cannot enter into any joint commercial collaboration with parties who recognise the potential of micro algae.
'That is why we are amending our Sarawak Biodiversity Ordinance to allow research and commercialisation of our research for the benefit of mankind,' he said when launching the Vision with Action for Biodiversity: Policy and Plan here last night.
He pointed out that the eventual commercial production of SAF would mark another milestone in Sarawak's efforts to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting responsible production and consumption.
Abang Johari also shared that the Sarawak government is looking into cultivating the fast-growing native tree species Kalapayang, which is said to have better quality texture compared to Acacia, another fast-growing tree species commonly used for wood production.
'We have the land, and we can increase the number of tree species. It is circular in nature and will produce biomass (for green energy),' he said.
On the Sarawak Biodiversity Policy and Plan, he said it is designed to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, aligned with the three pillars under the state's Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
'Our economic policy towards 2030 is one that balances the need for national growth with the need to preserve the environment,' he added.
Among those present at the event were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh; Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development permanent secretary Datu Abdullah Julaihi; and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Edward Vrkíc.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
UN Chief extends Eid al-Adha greetings, calls for unity
HAMILTON (Canada): United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has extended his warmest wishes to Muslims worldwide in conjunction with Eid al-Adha, while calling for greater solidarity and compassion amid ongoing global conflict and division. In a message posted on X on Thursday, Guterres said, 'At a time of conflict, division and violence, let's draw inspiration from the values of solidarity, community and compassion that inspire this celebration.' He added, 'My warmest wishes to everyone celebrating #EidAlAdha. Eid Mubarak!,' Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Muslims around the world will begin observing the four-day Eid al-Adha festival on Friday. The festival coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which represents the fifth pillar of Islam.
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Afghan civil servants face bleak Eid after salaries delayed
ABDUL Saboor usually treats his children to new clothes for the Eid al-Adha holiday but like many Afghan public sector workers, he is scraping by this year awaiting a delayed salary. The Taliban government has faced recurring difficulties paying civil servants since returning to power in 2021, leaving families grappling with financial uncertainty in one of the world's poorest countries. "We bought only cookies and dried fruits for Eid," said Saboor, which he said would be shared with visiting friends. One of the biggest holidays in the Muslim calendar, Eid al-Adha – which begins on Saturday – is celebrated with the sacrifice of an animal shared among family, neighbours and the needy to honour Ibrahim's, or Abraham's, willingness to sacrifice his son, before God offered a sheep instead. The 45-year-old, who works for the Parwan provincial government's rural development department, was relieved to cash in two months' salary last week, but he put the money directly into paying off debts to shops he'd been relying on for credit. "We couldn't go to some shopkeepers, we were embarrassed," he told AFP. Afghanistan has faced major economic challenges since 2021 and is experiencing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations. "Delays in the payment of wages and salaries point to persistent liquidity constraints and broader challenges in ensuring timely government expenditures," the World Bank said in an April report. Despite signs of recovery, the economic outlook remains "uncertain", the Bank said, with "growing fiscal pressures", a widening trade deficit and entrenched poverty. Public sector workers faced a similar struggle in March, receiving some delayed pay ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. The finance ministry said this week it was in the process of paying all civil servants two months' worth of unpaid salaries, without explaining the delay or saying if future wages would be paid on time. Since the start of June, "almost all of the departments have received their salaries" for two months, spokesman Ahmad Wali Haqmal told AFP on Tuesday. The Taliban government has not made its recent budgets public – but experts say security spending has been prioritised at the expense of other departments. On Wednesday morning, a central Kabul bank was packed with government employees shouting for their turn to collect salaries before the Eid holiday. In Kandahar city, government-paid workers also lined up to collect their money, some voicing only gratitude for getting paid. Hayatullah, a 21-year-old teacher in the Taliban heartland province, said he only received one-month's salary. "We will try to make ends meet," he said, refusing to give his full name for fear of reprisal. "But we can't afford the Eid expenses." Last year, the government slashed salaries of women staff who were forced to stay home since the Taliban seized power and prevented them from working in mixed offices. Jobs have been cut from other departments in recent months, though government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in April said reducing staff was a "normal" process aimed at improving efficiency. Mohammad, who works for a government office in Ghor and did not want to give his real name for fear of reprisal, said he had already spent his salary paying back loans to shopkeepers and had nothing left for Eid celebrations. "We received the salaries for two months very late and we have faced a lot of problems during this period," he said. "Eid is coming and when there is no money, it is really worrying – there are the children's expectations, family's expectations and Eid day expenses," said the 40-year-old who is the only breadwinner for 10 people. "My family has to wait."
New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Correct silent injustice of unrecorded births and deaths
TEN years ago, countries across Asia and the Pacific united to correct a silent injustice: millions of people were born and dying without ever being recorded. The launch of the Asia-Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Decade marked a bold regional commitment to ensure every birth and death is recorded, and every life counts. The CRVS Decade was about dignity. It aimed to equip governments with accurate, timely information to deliver essential services, shape responsive policies and uphold the rights of every person, in every corner of the region. The region has made undeniable progress. Since 2012, the number of unregistered children under five has fallen by 62 per cent, from 135 million to 51 million in 2024. This is an enormous achievement, made possible by strong political commitment, improved systems and regional cooperation. While there is much to celebrate, 51 million unregistered children in Asia and the Pacific are still far too many. We've come too far to stop now. We must extend the Asia-Pacific CRVS Decade to 2030. That's why the United Nations and our partners are committed to working together with governments across the region, helping to build stronger, more inclusive and people-centred CRVS systems. A birth certificate is more than a document; it's a child's first proof of existence in the eyes of the law. Without it, that child may be shut out of school, denied health care and excluded from social protection. They may be unable to prove their nationality or even their age. The consequences are especially severe for the most vulnerable and the effects ripple across generations. We also face a grave challenge on the other side of life. Every year, 6.9 million deaths go unregistered in the region, leaving families without access to inheritance, land rights or pensions. And even among registered deaths, fewer than one in three are medically certified, meaning we often don't know why people are dying. This gap in knowledge leaves public health systems in the dark - unable to fully understand, prepare for or respond to health threats. Timely, disaggregated statistics on causes of death are essential for designing and monitoring effective health policies and for detecting emerging crises, including pandemics. The upcoming Third Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific is the moment to act. Governments must use this opportunity to recommit to the CRVS agenda, renew their national targets and align with the SDG finish line in 2030. Extending the CRVS Decade to 2030 is a declaration: everyone counts. Data saves lives. Legal identity is a right, not a privilege. No one should be left behind simply because they were never counted in the first place. ARMIDA SALSIAH ALISJAHBANA Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Executive Secretary Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
