Sarawak must become significant partner in research collaborations: Adenan

KUCHING: Sarawak must be a significant partner in research collaborations and cannot remain merely as a supplier of raw material for others to benefit, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (pix).
Ideally the state should carry out as much of critical work in its research agencies from the discoveries made through research of its natural products, he added.
"We need to value add to this wealth of biodiversity we have, by conserving it, improving our research capacity and collect as much data as possible with the intention to generate invention and innovation," he said at the launch of the Integrated Biodiversity Research Building at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) here today.
He said over the years, the interest in natural products was increasing because of the many benefits as they were made from natural evolution and selection of the fittest.
"Natural products are important in research, as majority of the prescribed drug are derived from natural products, for example, the antibiotics and anti-cancer compounds," he added. — Bernama