MOSTI seeks international collaboration to make National Planet Health Plan a success

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has invited the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) to collaborate with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) to make the National Planet Health Action Plan (PTKPN) a success.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) said in a statement tonight that the invitation was made by its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, during a visit to IIASA in Laxenburg, Austria yesterday.

Dr Adham was quoted as saying that the IIASA, which was established in 1972, has expertise in systems analysis for various fields, especially those related to environmental science.

"MOSTI invites IIASA to explore a collaborative platform with the ASM in contributing their knowledge in technical assistance to strengthen the PTKPN, which will be more integrated by the end of the year," he said.

In addition, Dr Adham said the PTKPN would focus on two things, firstly the development of a surveillance, monitoring and impact tracking system (STIE Trend Watch) for the health of the planet as an enabler for the implementation of PTKPN.

Secondly, to increase research and development in the area of zoonosis towards the development of a national database for environmental genomics to control and prevent zoonotic diseases holistically through the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI), ASM and related agencies.

IIASA and ASM have cooperated through various research areas, especially in tackling haze and biomass burning in Malaysia and Asia, palm oil without deforestation and projecting population and human capital changes in the country.

Since 2013, there have been 26 visits by IIASA researchers to Malaysia while 47 individuals, among them researchers, advisers and diplomats, from Malaysia had visited or attended at least one event at IIASA.

-- BERNAMA