Ministry looking into incentives for FRIM researchers: Wan Junaidi

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 200 scientists and researchers with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) might be given incentives in the future for making breakthroughs in their research.
Stating this, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the initiative was made as an appreciation to reward the group for their work.
"This is to also ensure that the scientist and researchers do not move away to other places and do not feel marginalised," he said.
"In the past, despite making their findings, the royalties were received by FRIM or the government. The group might feel that they were not appreciated," he said in a press conference at the Parliament.
Wan Junaidi said the ministry was drafting a mechanism to serve as a guide on how the incentives could be distributed.
He added while the law is already in place for such incentives to be provided, it would be highly depended on the financial situation and earnings of FRIM.
"It will take time but I believe that we will be able to do it as our objective is noble," he added.
Asked whether the incentives would be in the form of cash payment, Wan Junaidi said it would depend on what the researchers or scientists need to progress in their work.
"Some of them might want to advance in their scientific research and would ask for better facilities," he said.