STATEWIDE disease surveillance will be rolled out next year as Sarawak intensifies efforts to strengthen early detection and elimination of major infectious diseases.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) will expand its surveillance coverage currently conducted in Bau, Padawan, Serian and Sri Aman to the entire state beginning 2026, supported by two major public health initiatives – the Sarawak Cervical Cancer Elimination Programme (RM18 million) and the Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (RM15 million).
“These programmes will significantly support our statewide surveillance efforts and reinforce Sarawak’s commitment to disease prevention and public health resilience,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday (Dec 1).
Sagah added that SIDC continues to advance its operational capacity since beginning operations in February 2024, expanding its work across research, administration and facility management.
Its current research focuses on disease prevalence, diagnostics and early vaccine and biotherapeutic capability targeting tuberculosis (TB), malaria, dengue, African swine fever, rabies, filariasis and soil-transmitted parasitic infections.
He stated that the physical development of the SIDC complex now stands at 40.19 per cent completion as of October 2025 and is scheduled for full completion by October 2026.
“In strengthening innovation, SIDC has also consolidated partnerships with Quantoom Biosciences and EnsiliTech to support the VaxBioD vaccine programme under the 13th Malaysia Plan, worth RM50 million, which aims to produce Sarawak’s first home-grown vaccine by 2030.”
Additionally, Sagah said SIDC recently launched the PhenomeSk cohort to build the state’s genome database, paving the way for precision medicine tailored to Sarawak’s diverse population.
On international collaboration, he noted the establishment of the Ali Wallace Joint Research and Training Centre with Murdoch University in Australia.
“An offshore SIDC office is expected to open there by mid-2026 to strengthen shared expertise, research and training.”
