KUALA LUMPUR: The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry plans to promote trenchless technology and underground space technology abroad.
Its Minister Chang Lih Kang said the ministry planned to further expand the field of technology before marketing the specialised manpower to other countries.
"This technology already exists in Malaysia and we (the country) are among the pioneers... we are already using this technology and what we can do now is to popularise this technology so that we can export our expertise abroad,” he told reporters at the Asian Conference on Development and Innovations in Trenchless and Underground Space Technology 2023 here Tuesday (Nov 7).
He also said that the technology would indirectly benefit the country in terms of more sustainable underground excavation compared to conventional excavation.
"I feel that it (trenchless technology and underground space technology) can help our country because our problem is that we have much uncoordinated digging work.
"For example, today the water company came and did some digging work, (and) tomorrow the telecommunication company will want to do fibre installation.
"I am confident that although this technology involves a lot of pipe jacking, it won’t affect the surface area and I feel that this is one way to move forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) president Prof Dr Norlida Buniyamin welcomed Chang’s suggestion of wanting more experts in the country to be marketed abroad.
"Other countries, like Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia really need our expertise, and it is my duty to bring forward this technology not only at the Asean level but to the world,” she said. - Bernama
