The Sarawak Biodiversity Council, the body that oversees a state research agency under the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), recently convened its inaugural meeting for its new term spanning March 2024 to February 2026, on 17^th April 2024.

At this meeting, the Council’s newly appointed Chairman, Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah bin Haji Zaidel who is Deputy State Secretary for Economic Planning and Development, conveyed his appreciation to former Chairman, State Secretary Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki, who had helmed the Council since 2022, and Professor Datu Dr Andrew Kiyu Dawie of UNIMAS, who served as a member of the Council from 2020 to 2024.

Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah also extended a warm welcome to two new Council members, Dr Veronica Lugah, Director of the Sarawak State Health Department, and Datu Lester Matthew, Director of the Economic Planning Unit Sarawak.

The current Council composition includes the Deputy Chairman, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development; Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development; the State Attorney General; the State Financial Secretary; Director of the Economic Planning Unit Sarawak; Director of the Forest; Director of the Agriculture; Controller of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Environment Board.

Also on board are prominent business leaders and experts, namely Mdm Anne Kung, Dr Veronica Lugah, and Dr Mary Jane Cardosa, whilst CEO of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), Dato Dr Yeo Tiong Chia serves in the capacity of Secretary to the Council.

The Sarawak Biodiversity Council provides policy decisions and strategic guidance to SBC, in the implementation of key projects under PCDS2030 such as the Sarawak’s first Bioindustrial Park, as well as setting directions for SBC Green Technologies development.

Photo caption:  The new Sarawak Biodiversity Council lineup with Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah bin Zaidel (seated 4^th from left) during a photocall before its first meeting for the year.

Seated (l-r): Mr Dominic Chunggat, Director of Agriculture, Mr Joseph Chioh Hock Hua representing the State Attorney General, Deputy Chairman Datu Hj Azmi bin Haji Bujang, Datu Muhammad Abdullah bin Haji Zaidel, Dato Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, Datu Haji Hamden bin Haji Mohammad, and Encik Jeferi Bin Darhman representing the State Financial Secretary.

Standing (l-r): Ms Ivy Lim representing Director of Economic Planning Unit, Dr Veronica Lugah, Mdm Anne Kung, Ms Tang Hung Huong representing Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development, and Mr Paul Bond Chamberlin representing the Controller, Natural Resource and Environment Board.

On 15th February 2024, SBC received the delegation of the European Union Ambassadors, led by His Excellency Michalis Rokas, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Malaysia.

The visit to Sarawak was part of the EU Business Day programme which aims to enhance connections and to seek opportunities for future business ventures in Sarawak.

During the visit to SBC, the delegates were briefed on Access and Benefit Sharing practices related to the use of biological resources in Sarawak, SBC’s R&D offerings, as well as on the progression from lab-scale to industrial-scale algae cultivation for various industrial applications.

His Excellency Peter Van Acker, Ambassador of Belgium to Malaysia and current President of the Council of the European Union, commemorated the delegation’s visit by planting a Scaphium longiflorum, also known as Kembang Semangkuk.  The species serves multiple purposes, from being used as shade, soil stabilisation and building material, to therapeutic uses.

The Ambassadors commended SBC for its research accomplishments and expressed anticipation for future cooperation.