July 1, 2008: The Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC) was started in 2000 to attend to the need for science-based information. Since then, MABIC has emerged as the only Malaysian pro-Biotechnology NGO to support the government’s efforts in developing biotechnology as a tool for national development. Its mission is to provide scientifically accurate and fact-based resources to all stakeholders and generating and fostering closer relations amongst stakeholders. MABIC’s priorities are to create awareness, promote  better understanding of biotechnology and facilitate  well-informed decision-making. 

As part of a global network, with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) as the parent institute and more than 15 sister organizations across the globe, MABIC also boasts strong international linkages with foreign stakeholders.

In an email interview with BioSpectrum, Ms Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center shared details about the various aspects related to biotechnology in Malaysia. Excerpts of the interview:   

What regulatory supports the government of Malaysia is providing for biotechnology companies?
Various ministries are working to establish the regulatory framework that will support the biotech industry. The biosafety law was passed last year and will regulate the import, export, handling and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and will be enforced in the second half of this year.

The Plant Variety Act is in place and the Ministry of Agriculture is working on the regulations. Whereas Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Clinical Practice guidelines are also in the pipeline. All these Acts and guidelines should act as an enabling tool and provide a conducive working environment for industry and investors.

Besides regulatory support, the government has many financial and funding schemes and mechanisms to encourage companies to venture into biotechnology. Tax incentives and various grants are available for deserving biotech companies. The Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation was established in 2005 to serve as a one-stop center to cater to the needs of the biotech industry and is responsible for the execution of the incentives and funding schemes. 

What are the Malaysia’s strengths and opportunities?
Malaysia is one of the countries where the government has pledged strong support and commitment to develop this sector. Various incentives and funding mechanisms are in place to encourage local companies as well as to attract foreign players.

Excellent infrastructure, laboratory facilities, past track record in manufacturing and ICT sectors certainly augurs well for Malaysia. The country’s rich biodiversity attracts scientists and companies in search of potential drugs and compounds for industrial applications. In fact, Malaysia’s biodiversity is unexploited and it would not be an exaggeration to say there are anti-cancers, anti-AIDS, anti-diabetes and other vaccines waiting to be explored in the forests and sea. Not only flowering plants, trees and ferns are crying for attention but also a wide range of fungi, bacteria and mushrooms.

Malaysia’s multi-ethnic population offers a good demographic for clinical research. A number of companies have already embarked on this. The other sector that offers vast opportunity is the plantation sector. Crops such as oil palm, rubber, cocoa, sago and pepper produce abundant biomass that could be translated into useful products such as nutraceuticals, bioplastics, biofuel, fertilizers, feed and other compounds for industrial applications.

Though lack of human capital and skilled workers has been a limiting factor, there are a good number of scientists and support staff to start with unlike many other developing countries.  Local research institutes and universities not only offer good facilities but also a number of excellent projects that could be taken to the next level of developmental stage for example into commercialization with the correct collaboration with the industry.

In what way, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center is helping the industry?
MABIC is a dedicated organization that disseminates science-based, factual information on biotech to stakeholders. Creating awareness and enhancing public understanding of biotechnology is instrumental to ensure industry growth. As biotechnology is still perceived to be a novel technology, there is much fear and concerns lingering on the public about its products. The opponents of the technology further exaggerate this fear with scaremongering. To address this, outreach programs  and quality reading materials play an important role in getting the right message out to the public. For any technology to reach the marketplace, public acceptance is crucial. Thus, our activities certainly will translate into acceptance of technology by the public.

The success of the biotechnology sector too does not depend solely on any one party. It is a culmination of various stakeholders coming together in a coherent manner. Scientists, policy makers, legislators, bankers, investors, industry, and religious authorities need to talk to each other actively. Unfortunately, these groups do not speak the same language and this creates a huge communication barrier between them. MABIC plays a key role in bringing these stakeholders together in seminars, workshops, and conferences. Our events serve as a platform for these stakeholders to discuss issues, understand the works of the different disciplines, and collaborate with each other. For example, a scientist needs to engage with financiers and lawyers before research can be commercialized. Public-private collaboration is also of paramount importance for commercialization.

What are your plans to promote biotechnology in Malaysia? 
MABIC will continue to organize seminars, workshops and conferences to address issues related to biotech for example policies, legal framework, ethics, and also on basic biotechnology to enhance public understanding.

We also intend to produce more publications in the form of booklets, articles, and journal. MABIC will be publishing a journal called “Biotech Frontier: Bridging the OIC Countries” with Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). The inaugural issue should be out soon.

We are currently working on a database that will feature all biotech scientists in Malaysia with their research profile and contact details. This will be the first of its kind in Malaysia and we hope it will be a tool for scientists to collaborate among themselves and also for other stakeholders to interact and collaborate with scientists.

As a nation that aspires to be a key biotech player, human capital is an area of particular interest, as lack of experts in this field will create a bottleneck. To address this, MABIC actively organizes workshops for students and teachers to inculcate the interest in biotech and promote effective pedagogy in schools. MABIC works closely with the Ministry of Education on this.

What is the current market size of the biotechnology industry in Malaysia? What are the major biotechnology companies operating in Malaysia?   
The biotech industry in Malaysia is still in its infancy but with the strong commitment from the government the industry is poised to grow. The pharmaceutical and healthcare sector has emerged  as one of the fastest growing biotech sectors in Malaysia. This sector comprises the development of vaccines and therapeutics, contract research and manufacturing, medical devices, diagnostics and drug delivery technologies. With the skyrocketing rise in the cost of clinical trials, many companies are shifting their activities offshore and Malaysia is seen as an attractive destination. Malaysia also boasts a strong foundation in diagnostics products using homegrown technology. The medical devices sector is another area that has been flourishing, the bulk involved in rubber-based medical supplies and consumables.

In the agriculture sector, producing planting materials using tissue culture methods and molecular breeding technology has created a healthy industry. Oil palm, ornamental plants, forest trees, and fruits are some of the plants explored.