BY RASHEEQA BAHIDA & NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS
KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan cited that Sarawak must leverage science and technology to fully realise its bold ambition of becoming a high-income, green and digital economy.
He stressed that the state, endowed with rich natural resources, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, is well-positioned to drive transformation through innovation and sustainability.
“The integration of symposiums such as the Borneo Satellite Network (BoSaN) Symposium, the 5th ASEAN Sago Symposium (ASAS), the 2nd Regional Conference on Natural Products, Traditional Medicines and Herbs, and the Festival of Ideas demonstrates effort to utilise Sarawak’s and Borneo’s unique strengths in bio-resources, biodiversity, traditional medicines and sago research,” he said.
His speech was read by Deputy Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh at the opening of the second Natural Science and Technology Conference (NaSTeC 2025) at Raia Hotel & Convention Centre here yesterday.
Awang Tengah commended Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) for its commitment to advancing Malaysia’s global standing through the newly launched UNIMAS Biodiversity Nexus, an initiative aimed at positioning the university as a regional hub for tropical biodiversity, sustainability and innovation.
“As the world faces complex challenges such as climate change, food and water insecurity, biodiversity loss and public health threats, interdisciplinary research, innovative thinking and collaborative partnerships are more important than ever,” Awang Tengah said.
He added that the state remained committed to supporting research, development and innovation through collaboration between government agencies, academia, industry players, communities and international partners.
“Conferences like NaSTeC build bridges, encourage intellectual exchange and spark ideas that will shape our future,” he said, urging students and young researchers to take full advantage of the platform to learn, share and network across disciplines and borders.
Meanwhile, UNIMAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit said the initiative aligned with Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and would provide an integrated framework to safeguard and manage Malaysia’s biodiversity hotspot sustainably.
“This bold agenda will allow UNIMAS to harness biodiversity and indigenous knowledge to address both regional priorities and global challenges,” he said.
Ahmad Hata also highlighted the achievements of the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FRST), which anchored the event, noting that its scholars are ranked among the world’s top two per cent and have earned accolades at international platforms such as the Seoul International Invention Fair.
“UNIMAS stands proudly at the forefront of research and innovation, not only for Sarawak but also for the region,” he concluded.
NaSTeC 2025 has attracted 152 participants from seven countries, including the United States, Japan, China, Indonesia, Brunei and Nigeria, reflecting its growing global recognition.
To further strengthen collaboration, UNIMAS has formalised two partnerships during the event— a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bertam View Sdn. Bhd. (DJI Kakidrones Sarawak) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Craun Research Sdn Bhd (CRAUN), both aimed at enhancing industry-academia linkages and community-driven innovation.
