Mosti developing RM10mil mobile chemistry lab

KOTA TINGGI: The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI), through the Chemistry Department, is developing a RM10mil mobile chemistry lab that will be housed at the department’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the mobile lab was expected to be operational at the end of next year and can be used to investigate cases involving chemical pollution that require immediate analysis.

"For this mobile lab, the development cost is RM10mil and it can be necessary especially for chemical-related pollution.

"The mobile lab can be mobilised instantly throughout the entire Peninsular Malaysia.

"This new approach by the Chemistry Department will greatly help in ensuring safety,” he told reporters after officiating a Chemistry Department programme in conjunction with the Johor Chemistry Department’s golden jubilee at Kampung Semangar Dalam multipurpose hall, Kota Tinggi here Sunday (May 29).

Dr Adham also said that his ministry was also developing two mobile lab buses worth RM200,000 a unit that were expected to begin operations early next year and will be stationed at Johor Baru, Johor and Bintulu, Sarawak.

He said Johor Baru was selected as pollution cases occurred frequently in that district while Bintulu was an oil and gas industrial area.

"This is a new approach and if it is successful in the two areas, we can expand to other areas and we will try to seek allocations from the government so that there is one in each state in the future,” he said. - Bernama