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The National Biotechnology Policy: New Opportunites for Biotechnology in Malaysia

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Abstract

The article discusses about the National Biotechnology policy and the biotechnology industry in Malaysia. It talks about the incentives and grants that the Malaysian government has for their investors and researchers. It also states the factors why investors should consider Malaysia as a country they can invest in.

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... With the launching of the National Biotechnology Policy (NBP) by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in 2005, Malaysia expressed its intention to engage in the biotechnology arena on par with the advancement of the 21st century (Ahmad Badawi, 2005;Quah and Arujanan, 2005). Malaysia offers a conducive environment for biotechnology investors due to numerous favorable factors such as being rich with various flora and fauna that can be developed into natural and medicinal/therapeutic products, having skilled human resources with a trained pool of talent for the biotechnology industry, and having good infrastructure 2 | Example of questions for conducting careful scientific research, ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) research, and meaningful stakeholder engagement, education, and dialogue (SEED) in context of gene editing. ...
... The Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (currently known as Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd.) was founded to serve as a one-stop organization to facilitate the involvement of companies in the biotechnology industry, implement government policies and initiatives, encourage research and development as well as commercialization, and create a robust investor ecosystem (Quah and Arujanan, 2005;Quah, 2007;Arujanan and Singaram, 2018). Meanwhile, to stimulate bio-entrepreneurship, BioNexus special status was awarded to qualified foreign and Malaysian biotechnology companies that provided incentives, grants, and capacity building programs to assist growth. ...
Article
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Gene editing platforms have revolutionized the field of genetics with a direct impact on the public health system. Although there are apparent benefits, it is often accompanied by public debates over its uncertainties and risks. In the Malaysian context, modern biotechnology has raised questions about how to best govern gene editing in regulations, biosafety, and biosecurity. Even though standards and guidelines on stem cell and cell-based therapies have been developed, there are no appropriate legal frameworks available for gene editing yet. Nevertheless, biosafety regulations were established to balance promoting biotechnology and protecting against their potential environmental and human health risks. There is also a need to address the potential of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as bioweapons. Numerous frameworks from several international organizations may provide valuable input in formulating documents on gene editing. By establishing comprehensive guidelines, legal policies, and standards to tackle the challenges and risks associated with gene editing, Malaysia can successfully apply this modern technology in this country.
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Since 1990s Malaysia aspired to make biotechnology and bioeconomy as her engines of economic growth to utlise the abundance of natural resources and biodiversity. The public sector plays an integral role in developing the sector and various incentives are in place for the private sector to be actively involved and to forge collaboration with the public sector. The country launched its National Biotechnology Policy in 2005 and later launched its National Bioeconomy Programme in 2010 to become the first country in South East Asia and second in Asia after China to have such an initiative. Malaysia is also very proactive in its biosafety law and regulations and has most of the related legal instrument in place. A lot of success has been recorded since the inception of the National Biotechnology Policy in terms of job creation, contribution to GDP through biobusinesses and investment from foreign companies, but the sector is not spared from challenges too. Due to the nature of the discipline that is multidisciplinary and that requires huge amount of investment, expertise and political will, there are a lot of barriers before the country emerges as a bioeconomy player. This paper discusses the public policies, initiatives and funding mechanisms in place in Malaysia that drive its research, development and commercialisation in the area of biotechnology and bioeconomy. The authors also discuss the challenges faced in Malaysia in implementing the policies. Article is available for free till 2 Jan 2018 here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1W2Yv6faWNCcoU
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This article shortly reveals the current perspective on Biotechnology in Malaysia.
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