Malaysia proposes Asean centre for science diplomacy

CYBERJAYA: Malaysia has proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Centre for Science Diplomacy, which would be the first regional hub in the country focusing on the role of science in public policy and cooperation among ASEAN nations.

The proposal was initiated by UCSI University and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), and fully supported by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI).

Institute for Science Diplomacy and Sustainability (UCSI-IISDS) at UCSI University Founding Director and MIGHT Co-Chairman (Government), Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, said the hub would serve to mobilise all efforts in ASEAN to champion science diplomacy issues, with Malaysia leading the establishment of the hub.

“It will be a very important and critical hub to address issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and more… and all these problems are rooted in science.

“That’s why we need a centre that can manage these matters not only at the national level, but also regionally,” he said.

He was speaking to Bernama and RTM after attending the ‘International Conference on Science Diplomacy for Regional Prosperity in ASEAN’ here today.

According to Zakri, who is also the recipient of the 13th National Academic Figure Award, a proposal paper has been prepared and initial discussions with the ASEAN Secretariat have begun, including several town hall sessions with ASEAN member states.

He said one such session was held in Jakarta two months ago, where the proposal received strong support.

“…but to realise it, more time is needed, including one-to-one negotiations between governments. What’s important is that we want Malaysia, through Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to give a signal of support for this initiative, which can then be endorsed at all ASEAN levels.

“Western countries already have such hubs. This would be the first initiative of its kind in the developing world, in a Global South country. So basically, among ASEAN countries, this hub does not exist yet, which is why we want to encourage Malaysia to lead in pushing for its establishment,” he said.

Earlier, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Chang Lih Kang, in his officiating speech, said Malaysia is seriously exploring the establishment of the centre, which will serve as a hub for knowledge exchange, capacity building and policy coordination.

The two-day conference, which began today, gathers policymakers and academics from ASEAN and beyond to discuss the challenges of science diplomacy as a mechanism to foster regional cooperation among ASEAN member countries.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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