Latest news with #RolandSagahWeeInn
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Sagah: Disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop out to boost health preparedness in Sarawak
Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (May 27): The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) has begun a disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak's efforts in strengthening its health preparedness and response mechanisms. In this regard, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn hailed the Ulu Undop move as the first of several planned initiatives under SIDC, with two additional sites in Kuching expected to be launched later this year. 'This is part of our broader strategy to enhance early detection and response, especially in rural and vulnerable areas,' he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday. It is also informed that in tandem with its surveillance efforts, SIDC is also piloting latent tuberculosis diagnosis in high-risk areas as a precursor to the Sarawak Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP). Adding on, Sagah said construction of the SIDC facility in Samarahan, which kicked off in March last year, was progressing on schedule. On the international front, he said the SIDC had signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on May 6 with the University of Edinburgh, the ROSE Foundation (based at Universiti Malaya), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), and other global partners to advance research in diagnostics, 'One Health', human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, and also potential vaccine development. 'SIDC also launched the Ali Wallace Joint Research and Training Centre with Murdoch University,' said the Tarat assemblyman, adding that 10 SIDC staff members wold undergo training in Australia, with four Murdoch researchers currently being based in Sarawak. 'Two PhD slots have also been allocated to SIDC under this partnership, with Murdoch supporting the Centre's AI-enabled ICT design.' Sagah also highlighted SIDC's collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services to deploy portable genome sequencing to monitor African Swine Fever Virus and also to bolster biosecurity in the pork industry. 'These strategic partnerships, both local and international, reaffirm Sarawak's commitment to being at the forefront of infectious disease research and public health innovation,' he pointed out. healthcare Roland Sagah Wee Inn Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
'Disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop out to boost health preparedness in Sarawak'
Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (May 27): The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) has begun a disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak's efforts in strengthening its health preparedness and response mechanisms. In this regard, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn hailed the Ulu Undop move as the first of several planned initiatives under SIDC, with two additional sites in Kuching expected to be launched later this year. 'This is part of our broader strategy to enhance early detection and response, especially in rural and vulnerable areas,' he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday. It is also informed that in tandem with its surveillance efforts, SIDC is also piloting latent tuberculosis diagnosis in high-risk areas as a precursor to the Sarawak Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP). Adding on, Sagah said construction of the SIDC facility in Samarahan, which kicked off in March last year, was progressing on schedule. On the international front, he said the SIDC had signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on May 6 with the University of Edinburgh, the ROSE Foundation (based at Universiti Malaya), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), and other global partners to advance research in diagnostics, 'One Health', human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, and also potential vaccine development. 'SIDC also launched the Ali Wallace Joint Research and Training Centre with Murdoch University,' said the Tarat assemblyman, adding that 10 SIDC staff members wold undergo training in Australia, with four Murdoch researchers currently being based in Sarawak. 'Two PhD slots have also been allocated to SIDC under this partnership, with Murdoch supporting the Centre's AI-enabled ICT design.' Sagah also highlighted SIDC's collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services to deploy portable genome sequencing to monitor African Swine Fever Virus and also to bolster biosecurity in the pork industry. 'These strategic partnerships, both local and international, reaffirm Sarawak's commitment to being at the forefront of infectious disease research and public health innovation,' he pointed out. healthcare Roland Sagah Wee Inn Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sarawak aims to produce 500 semiconductor engineers by 2030
KUCHING: Sarawak aims to produce 500 semiconductor engineers by 2030, state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said today. He said state-owned Microelectronics Design (SMD) is running upskilling and reskilling programmes to achieve the target. "One key programme is the semiconductor mastery programme, developed in partnership with Melexis Malaysia and Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS)." He said this in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly here. He said 28 trainees had completed a six-month training programme and were hired by SMD, Melexis, and X-FAB Sarawak at the Samajaya Hi-Tech Park. To strengthen Sarawak's presence in the global semiconductor industry, SMD has established an R&D innovation hub in Newport, Wales, in collaboration with CSA Catapult. "This move gives us access to world-class research facilities, top-tier talent and key industry partners. "A highlight this year is the development of an Edge AI-power converter we soft-launched in Newport, witnessed by Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. Sagah said that the prototype is a breakthrough for smart grids, electrical vehicles and industrial systems using AI for real-time power management and energy efficiency. He said that the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre is central to the state's vision of achieving AI sovereignty. "This will be realised through the establishment of a trusted AI infrastructure, the development of domestic AI and domain expertise, the protection of Sarawak's data ownership, and the deployment of AI solutions that enhance governance, public service delivery, and AI security." He said the centre is leading the development of the Sarawak AI Roadmap, a blueprint to guide efforts in building an inclusive and future-ready AI ecosystem. He added that, as part of this initiative, the centre is co-developing Sarawak's AI strategy and policy framework with government policymakers to ensure alignment with the state's digital agenda. "At the same time, the centre will work with stakeholders and industry partners to design a strategy for AI talent development.' This, he said, will include training, upskilling and capacity-building efforts aimed at equipping Sarawakians with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. He said the centre will embark on artificial intelligence research and development, in partnership with research institutions and institutions of higher learning. He said that these efforts will position Sarawak at the forefront of technological innovation and knowledge creation. "One of the key focus areas under the AI Roadmap is the development of DeepSAR, a specialised AI platform co- developed with stakeholders from the biodiversity sector and other industries. "DeepSAR will support advanced research and data-driven solutions that leverage Sarawak's natural heritage and sectoral expertise."
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Science
- Borneo Post
Sagah: Tropi named Malaysia's sole partner in global peatland research project
Sagah addresses members of the august House during the DUN sitting today. – Sarawak Public Communications Unit photo KUCHING (May 26): The Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi) has been appointed as Malaysia's sole partner for the Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Budgets in Peatlands: From Processes to Global Comprehension project this year, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn. The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister stated that as part of this collaboration, a Miro Multi-compound Gas Analyser System was deployed at a field site in February to continuously monitor greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes — specifically Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Methane (CH4). 'To address data transmission challenges from the remote location, the Miro system has been integrated with Starlink satellite internet, enabling real-time, digitised data transfer to Tropi's central repository. 'This setup allows Tropi researchers to continuously access, monitor, and analyse GHG flux data, significantly enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of their monitoring efforts,' said Sagah during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here today. Sagah said Tropi continues to make substantial contributions to global scientific discourse on peatland conservation and sustainable development in 2025. The institution represented Sarawak at major international platforms, including the International Soil Science Conference 2025, the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU2025), the International Peatland Society Annual Convention 2025, and the 12th Intecol Wetlands Conference. In the speech, Roland highlighted the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre's (SBC) efforts to commercialise biodiversity-based products through a structured and scientific approach. 'This approach involves a progression of registering end products that have traditional claims, to scientifically validated modern health claims and subsequently as pharmaceutical applications,' he said. As a start, SBC is targeting four monographs of local species. 'Monographs are detailed scientific documents that describe the species characteristics, their traditional uses, preparation methods, phytochemical information, pharmacological as well as safety and toxicity of the species. These are important references for registering a product.' He said SBC aims to register these species as natural products with traditional claims with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) by November 2025. 'If successfully commercialised, these will result in benefit sharing with the communities.' 'Speaking of communities, on May 22 to 24 this year, 46 members from 15 indigenous communities, from 40 locations throughout Sarawak convened at SBC for the annual Traditional Knowledge Documentation Workshop. 'The spotlight of this annual workshop is on prioritising their respective plants and associated traditional knowledge for commercialisation,' he added. Sagah said these initiatives reflect his ministry's commitment to both scientific advancement and sustainable economic development, in line with the international theme for Biodiversity Day 2025, 'Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.' 'By recognising the value of traditional knowledge and our biological resources, we are not only committed to sustainable economic growth, but also the preservation of our biodiversity,' he said.
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Science
- Borneo Post
Sagah: Inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test for Primary 6 students set for Oct 15-16
Sagah explained that the assessment covered three core subjects central to the DLP Sarawak curriculum namely Science, Mathematics, and English. – File photo KUCHING (May 26): The inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test (UP-DLP) for Primary 6 students in schools implementing this programme will be held on Oct 15 and 16, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn. The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said this initiative underscored the state government's commitment to ensuring that the standard of education in Sarawak continues to meet recognised global standards. 'UP-DLP Sarawak is a standardised assessment for Primary 6 and Form 3 students taking part in DLP Sarawak. 'This initiative is a collaborative effort by my ministry, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS), Swinburne Innovation Malaysia (SWIM), and our state-owned universities,' he said when winding up his ministerial speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting today. He explained that the assessment covered three core subjects central to the DLP Sarawak curriculum namely Science, Mathematics, and English. 'The examination papers for these subjects are developed by our local expert teachers, ensuring they are tailored to the programme's specific needs and context. 'Crucially, all examination papers will also be thoroughly vetted and verified by Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUP&A). This rigorous process guarantees that the assessments meet international standards,' he said. He added that to formalise this partnership, SWIM signed a Contract Service Agreement with CUP&A on April 30 in Cambridge, United Kingdom, which was witnessed by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. On the Sarawak Enhancement Education Programme (SEEP), Sagah said the Sarawak government has allocated RM20 million to support this programme which aims to significantly improve student performance, particularly in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. 'A core element of this initiative is the provision of free tuition to students, specifically targeting those who have not passed their school-based examinations, with the goal of boosting their academic achievement. 'SEEP focuses on Form 3 students, offering tuition in core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, and History. For upper secondary students, the programme extends to include tuition for all pure science subjects. 'The overarching objective is to enhance students' readiness for STEM-related courses at tertiary level and to prepare them for future careers within STEM fields,' he explained. In addition to free tuition, he said SEEP also encompassed a range of supplementary activities which include the development of comprehensive learning modules for both teachers and students, the creation of a dedicated SEEP Management System, and the organisation of various webinars and workshops, as well as facilitates crucial engagement sessions with teachers and parents.
