For ASEAN’s Malaysian chairmanship, science is the cornerstone of unity
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, a world-renowned scholar, told AsiaNews that Malaysia has a unique opportunity to develop the potential of the 10-member bloc. This year’s focus will be on "inclusivity and sustainability”. Malaysia's expertise in the fields of biotechnology, renewable energy, and agriculture can lead to a technological transformation.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) – This month Malaysia took over from Laos the rotating chair of the 10-member[*] Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was created in 1967 to promote cooperation and mutual assistance.
Malaysia’s role as ASEAN chair is not merely ceremonial. “Malaysia, as a rising leader in technology, is uniquely positioned to harness this potential among member nations,” said Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, executive director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre, speaking to AsiaNews.
"Inclusivity and sustainability" are the focus of Malaysia’s chairmanship, this according to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who announced a “new era", the beginning of a new chapter under the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Ensuring peace, stability and development inspired the bloc’s first initiatives. With more than 660 million people, it now includes some of the most dynamic economies in the world with broader trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, and Japan.
Malaysia has therefore the opportunity to lead ASEAN in innovation and technological progress.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is recognised internationally and has been included in the list of the hundred most influential people in the field of biotechnology by The Scientific American Worldwide View: A Global Biotechnology Perspective Journal.
For the Malaysian chairmanship, a key priority is fostering talent and knowledge exchange. In fact, student and talent exchange programmes across ASEAN can play a critical role in creating a skilled workforce ready to face the challenges of the region’s future.
“This exchange would not only enrich the participants but also foster a sense of unity and shared purpose within ASEAN member nations,” Dr Arujanan explained. “Similarly, technology transfer initiatives can ensure that advancements are not confined to one nation but benefit the entire region,” she added.
For the director of the Biotechnology Information Centre, this should lead to contamination among member countries, especially regarding technological progress.
“We can establish joint degree programmes and shared research initiatives by facilitating collaboration among universities. Such collaborations would elevate the quality of education and research in ASEAN, making it a global powerhouse for innovation,” she said.
For Dr Arujanan, another crucial area is regulatory harmonisation between member states, because "divergent regulatory frameworks" often act as barriers to trade and innovation.
“A unified approach to STI regulations would not only reduce these barriers but also enhance the robustness of R&D across the region,” she told AsiaNews. “By standardising policies, we can create an ecosystem where innovation thrives and businesses can scale seamlessly across borders. These could be regulations related to biosafety, biosecurity, pharmaceuticals, novel food, aviation, and space technology, fintech, cybersecurity, and smart mobility among others.”
According to Dr Arujanan, ASEAN will also benefit greatly from agricultural innovations such as smart and precision farming, genetic modification and gene editing, vertical and urban farming, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and blockchain technology.
“These advancements improve productivity, enhance food security, and promote sustainability. Several countries are already looking into all these innovations,” she explained.
“Singapore has initiated the vertical farms concept; Malaysia is aggressively looking into smart farming with blockchain-enabled supply chains, and IoT, while Thailand and the Philippines have excellent agricultural research and breeding programmes.”
Dr Arujanan notes that the new lessons of the Global North can be harnessed in ASEAN, especially vis-à-vis the regulatory framework, infrastructure, investment, and public-private participation.
While ASEAN is primarily a global hub for rice, palm oil and seafood production – with countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia its main exporters, the region still faces crucial challenges, mots notably the effects of climate change, supply chain vulnerability, and poverty among farmers.
“It is a call to action and by prioritising collaboration, harmonisation, and innovation, Malaysia can lead ASEAN into a future where science and technology are the cornerstones of growth and unity,” Arujanan said.
[*] Established in 1967, the group also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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