FRIM scientists to reap profits from discoveries

At the dewan rakyat
Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO and HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM

SOME 200 local scientists with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) may soon get to reap profits from their discoveries, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister said a mechanism was being drafted to implement the new incentives to spur commercialisation of research under FRIM Incorporated, which was set up last year.

“For some scientists, it is not about how much money they can get.

“They would rather be rewarded in other forms such as having improved research facilities for the advancement of their work,” he told reporters at a press conference at Parliament yesterday.

At present, he said only FRIM and the Government were entitled to royalties from discoveries.

He said new incentives were allowed under the FRIM Act 2016.

Dr Wan Junaidi was replying to a question raised by Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) as to what measures were being taken to offer local scientists adequate rewards for their hard work.

On a separate matter, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said some 1,600 operators were involved in Sabah seaweed farming, covering some 1,000ha out of 38,000ha of land reserved for algae cultivation, near Tenom.

Ahmad Shabery said Sabah seaweed was considered a superfood with some 206 metric tonnes harvested annually.

He was replying to a question by Datuk Raime Unggi (BN-Tenom).