Sharpening skills for Vision 2020

Sharpening skills for Vision 2020

Lim Pui Huen highlights Malaysian policy initiatives on
science and technology.

Several recent developments in Malaysia have underscored the
government's seriousness of purpose with regard to its science
and technology policy. Greater emphasis on science and technology
development is seen as vital to prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's
aim of achieving industrialized nation status for Malaysia in 25
years, popularly called Vision 2020.

First, the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia, was officially
inaugurated. A few days later, the ministry of finance designated
21 research institutes as approved institutions whereby the
private sector would be allowed double-taxation deductions when
using their services. Following that, the minister for education
unveiled a 10-year blueprint to promote technical education.

All these measures are part of the government's strategy
to strengthen its science and technology policy, elements of
which include:

.Development of the national scientific potential and science
and technology self-reliance;

.Development of Research and Development infrastructure and
centers of excellence;

.Human resource development;

.Promoting technology transfers; and

.Commercialization of research results.

The new Academy of Sciences will be no ivory tower but will
have the long-term objective of harnessing science and technology
for development. One of its most important tasks will be to act
as a consultative body to advise the government on strategic
areas. Its establishment is perhaps long overdue as Malaysia has
a scientific community of some depth. There are a number of
research institutes of long standing that have a history of solid
achievements in their fields. The oldest of these is the
Institute of Medical Research, founded in 1900. It has done
pioneering work in research on tropical diseases. Research
institutes such as the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia,
Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia, Malaysian Agricultural
Research and Development Institute, have produced innovative
research that has maintained Malaysia's lead in their respective
sectors.

While agriculture continues to be a significant component of
the economy, comprising 16 percent of GDP, Malaysia has been
steadily moving towards a policy of industrialization so that the
manufacturing sector now comprises 31.5 percent of GDP and
earnings from manufactured goods amount to 78 percent of total
export earnings.

Technology-related research institutes have been established
to meet these new needs. They include the Standards and
Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia, Nuclear Technology
Research Institute, and the National Remote Sensing Center.
Industrialization, especially in high-tech industries, has
increased the need for technology. Indeed, the transfer of
technology has been one of the issues with investing countries
like Japan. The implementation of major infrastructure projects
will also increase the need for science and technology
applications.

New projects include the Second Link between Singapore and
Johor, the Bakun Dam in Sarawak, the international airport at
Sepang, and, most recently, the development of a new national
capital to be named Putrajaya. These developments have stretched
available resources and highlighted two pressing problems.
Firstly, the need for science and technology manpower at all
levels and secondly the need for stepping up R & D. Of the two,
the latter is more easily tackled.

Here, the Academy of Sciences has an important role in helping
to identify research priorities. The National Council for
Scientific Research and Development has been allocated M$600
million to promote research under the current Sixth Malaysia
Plan. The finance ministry's move to allow double taxation
deductions when using the services of approved research
institutes and universities, will enable companies without in-
house facilities to invest in R & D in cooperation with
established Malaysian institutions.

The problem of skilled manpower requires a longer term
solution and the skills gap, if not resolved, has the potential
to impede economic growth. However, education in Malaysia,
especially higher education, has complex ethnic overtones.
Educational issues such as student intake, faculty recruitment
and medium of instruction, have a tendency to turn into
political issues. The educational shortcomings Malaysia faces is
reflected in the literacy rate, which is one of the lowest in
ASEAN.

Education Minister Najib Tun Razak is in the process of
drafting a new Education Act which will address some of these
problems.

One of the key issues will be the role of the English
language. Proficiency in English is recognized as a requisite for
the acquisition of scientific knowledge and for international
communication. The new act would allow English to be used as the
medium of instruction for certain purposes. However, extending
the use of English has raised the concern of Malay academics so
much so that both the prime minister and the deputy prime
minister have issued statements reaffirming the central role of
Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.

In the meantime, steps are being taken to enlarge the science
and technology base. The cabinet has approved a 10-year blueprint
to promote technical education which would take effect next year.
The plan would include the introduction of technical subjects in
secondary schools and the upgrading of vocational and technical
schools. The intake of science and engineering students would
be progressively increased from 25 to 60 percent. By the year
2000, student numbers would be increased to 20,000 in each of the
eight universities.

A related topic is the problem of brain drain as there are
large numbers of Malaysians working in other countries,
especially Singapore. However, a tight labor market has brought
about healthy increases in local salary levels while the high
cost of living has reduced the attractiveness of higher earnings
in Singapore.

Although there is a tendency in Malaysia to attribute policy
initiatives to Dr. Mahathir, there is no doubt that the wide
spectrum of developments in science and technology and the
determination with which they are being pursued, bear the firm
imprint of his hand. After all, how many prime ministers
have a Science Adviser attached to their department? Vision 2020
is Dr. Mahathir's articulation of the future, and he has a very
clear sense of direction towards his goal.

Lim Pui Huen is a Research Fellow at the Institute of
Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore and Associate Editor of
Trends.