Madius: M’sia needs dynamic workforce in marine-related fields

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia needs a dynamic workforce with diverse skills and expertise in marine-related fields to deal with environmental, economic, social, cultural and national security issues, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Madius Tangau.

He said Malaysia’s marine area exceeded the land area and gave the country more resources and enormous responsibilities towards its management.

“Malaysia has national interests in protecting the marine ecosystem services that play an increasingly important role in our economy, lifestyles and everyday life.

“We are a maritime country and greatly depend on navigation and transport to connect the country’s east and west, and the outside world, and for many other purposes.

“In this context, I must mention that Universiti Malaysia Sabah ( UMS), through the educational

Malaysia has national interests in protecting the marine ecosystem services that play an increasingly important role in our economy, lifestyles and everyday life. Datuk Madius Tangau, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister

programmes and ocean outreach can contribute significantly to producing ocean professionals and different levels of workforce to help the country govern its marine heritage more effectively,” he added.

Madius said this in his speech while opening the International Conference on Marine Science and Aquaculture 2018.

The speech was read out by the ministry’s deputy secretarygeneral, Associate Prof Dr Ramzah Dambul here today.

The two- day conference themed ‘Ocean Governance: Issues, Priorities and Strategies’ is organised by UMS through its Borneo Marine Research Institute.

It is aimed as a platform to share ideas, experiences and perspectives among its 114 participants related to the need of the ocean governance.

Also present were UMS vicechancellor Prof Datuk Dr. D. Kamarudin D. Mudin and Borneo Marine Research Institute Director Prof Dr. Rossita Shapawi.

Meanwhile, Ramzah when met by reporters said the involvement of marine scientists and industry players in the conference was the best approach in generating input as well as more realistic and comprehensive mechanism on ocean governance and policy in the country. — Bernama