Abang Johari envisions S’wak at regional innovation lab

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg wants Sarawak to be an ‘innovation lab’ in South East Asia to explore and come up with new ideas and develop new ways of doing things.

Speaking after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia yesterday, he said in view of the large oil palm development in Sarawak, efforts should be made to create a machine that can not only pick and transport fresh fruit bunches (FFB), but also possesses the ability to precisely determine the ripeness of the FFB.

“Sarawak can in fact become one (innovation lab). This is my personal ambition for Sarawak,” he said in a speech to thank Swinburne University.

He pointed out that if such a machine can be developed and made available to the industry, it would not only cut the extensive labour needed but also reduce dependence on foreign labour and increase productivity.

Abang Johari expressed his belief that such a machine has good market potential, particularly in the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines – East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) where oil palm is a major cash crop.

The chief minister is currently leading a delegation of government and local university officials on a week-long study tour of Melbourne and Tasmania.

The MoU between the state government and the university covers the field of research and development in collaboration with Swinburne’s Sarawak campus and other local universities.

The signing was followed by briefings by Swinburne officials on current research projects of the university’s branch campus here, the way forward to creating a culture of innovation in society, transport innovation, and the development of digital technology.

Later, the chief minister and members of his delegation were taken on a guided tour of the ‘Factory of the Future’ facility at the Melbourne campus showcasing digital and technological innovation to create an autonomous factory environment.

Abang Johari was impressed with a research being carried out at the university on human DNA compositions that would lead to identification of certain types of protein that can be used to repair human DNA.

In view of this, he said Sarawak’s rich biodiversity might have a lot to offer to the effort to identify and produce protein required to repair diseased DNA and provide impetus to find innovative treatment of cancer.

“The ideas might sound farfetched, but it’s not impossible and can happen one day with technological advancement,” he said.

The chief minister also paid a courtesy call on Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau, at the governor’s official residence in Melbourne together with State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, ConsulGeneral of Malaysia in Melbourne Westmoreland Palon, and his principal private secretary Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad.

During the visit, Abang Johari presented the Dessau with gifts of handwoven Iban Pua Kumbu scarf, Orang Ulu bead necklace, and a Sarawak travel book apart from officially inviting the Governor to visit the state.

This was followed by calls on Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Asia Engagement, Hong Lim.

Meanwhile, members of the state delegation took part in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Victoria state government.