MOSTI hoping for allocation under 2023 Budget to empower bioeconomy industry

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) hopes that the 2023 Budget scheduled to be tabled this Oct 7 will be able to help the ministry in empowering the country's bioeconomy industry.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim said through the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), which is now placed under MOSTI, various agendas and strategies had been planned for next year to stimulate the country's economy.

"At a meeting last month, the cabinet decided that the Bioeconomy Corporation, which was then under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI), be placed under MOSTI to further accelerate development in bioeconomy-related industries, which will involve allocation," he said.

He told this to reporters after handing over 40 motorcycles to the hardcore poor in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency. The recipients are also participants of the Welfare Department's e-Kasih programme.

Ahmad Amzad said the ministry also needed allocation to carry out its various responsibilities, including driving the smart technology industry and increasing the use of renewable energy in the country.

AHMAD AMZAD-BUDGET 2 (LAST) KUALA TERENGGANU

In another development, he said, the results of the investigation and analysis of two objects suspected to be debris from China's rocket that were found in Sarawak recently, would be announced after the report had been completed.

"We will announce when the report is completed. The objects have been taken to the Department of Chemistry in Petaling Jaya (Selangor) for investigation," he said.

Last July, the media reported that debris from China's Long March 5B rocket was detected crossing Malaysian airspace in several areas including over Sarawak.

A special investigation team mobilised by MOSTI has confirmed that the debris does not emit any radiation and does not contain any radioactive elements and is safe for further investigation and analysis.

Now MOSTI through the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) in collaboration with the Malaysian Chemical Department is carrying out a detailed investigation on the two objects to confirm whether the objects are related to the incident of the re-entry of China's Long March 5B rocket debris or not.

-- BERNAMA