Making Locally Developed Technologies Reaching All Malaysians

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau speaking to The Star during an interview in Kuala Lumpur recently.

DOES the man in the street, who regularly shops at the pasar borong, really care that the fish he buys are free of diseases? Who pays attention to fulfilling the needs of the old folk in remote villages yearning for clean water, affordable to their level of income? What does an executive who drives a German marque has in mind when he happily swirls around corners while braking hard and enjoying his drive?

The three questions actually have some commonalities – technologies – and Malaysia has plenty to offer. But the question is whether the technologies are really up to the mark in addressing the needs of the users and to a greater extent, meeting the stringent requirements of the producers? Manufacturers or producers are constantly looking for new products or product lines to stay in business. This means that new products must be developed with demand in mind, hence, demand-driven research and development (R&D) should be given focus.