Biotech Updates

Experts Enlighten Malaysia MPs on Biotech

November 27, 2013

The inaugural dialogue on GM crops with Members of Parliament (MPs) in Malaysia was organised by the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) and Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) recently in Kuala Lumpur. Gauging from the feedback received from Alexandra Kandappu and Nashua Fauzun, the Parliament Research Assistant and the Executive Secretary for Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBC) respectively, such dialogue is expected to become an annual event.

The dialogue was organised to create awareness on biotechnology issues among the MPs and enable them to effectively engage the public and  the media when issues on GM technology is raised. Five MPs from both sides of the divide attended the dialogue and the discussion was focused on food security and sustainable development. Concerns on food safety was also raised by an MP.

Dato' Othman Aziz from Barisan Nasional suggested dialogues at lunch breaks when parliament is in session to enable more MPs to attend the event. He was also supportive of biotechnology as a tool to develop the agriculture sector in Malaysia.

Prof. Farida Habib Shah (TWAS Executive Council) moderated the session, while other speakers included Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan (MABIC), Prof. Yasmin Othman (University of Malaya), Dr. Anastasia Bodnar (Biology Fortified, USA), Dr. Mariechel Navarro (ISAAA) and Dr. Kodiswaran Kandasamy (BiotechCorp).

For more information on the event, contact Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center at maha@bic.org.my.