Pahang gets RM76m to promote hi-tech activities

Hope that these high technology activities can bring great benefit to civilian of Pahang state. I still remember that last year June i went to TPM, Raub together with my brother to asking some information regarding the biodiversity of herb. we found that the enviroment surrounding is very nice and comfortable. But not sure whether it function well or not.

Monday May 7, 2007 - The Star by ROSLINA MOHAMAD

KUANTAN: The state government has received RM76mil under the 9th Malaysian Plan to promote activities related to information, technology and communication (ICT), biotechnology and biodiversity.

This includes the development of Gambang Technology Park that involves the construction of the ICT buildings and biotechnology laboratories, buying equipment and providing basic infrastructure.

State Science, Innovation, Information and Information Technology Committee Chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said the sum also included RM30mil which was a special allocation set aside by the Finance Ministry to ensure Gambang Technology Park moved in the right direction.

"An action plan is required to see to it that the development of ICT, biodiversity and biotechnology is made in line with aspirations of the Government.

"As such, the state government has agreed to appoint Universiti Malaysia Pahang as the consultant to draft the master plan," he said here recently.

He added that the state government had also identified several areas in biotechnology that had the potential to help fill up the state's coffers and the focus would be on agro-biotechnology, healthcare biotechnology and industrial biotechnology.

The herbal industry was an area with such potential and there were a few major projects which had been approved, Mohd Sharkar said.

"Among them are herbal bio-technology centre owned by Technology Park Malaysia and the formation of Felda Herba Cor-poration that specialises in re-search and development work.

"The Pahang government also hopes to get the cooperation from Malaysian Industry Government Group (MIGHT) to develop a herbal valley project in the state that aims to produce entrepreneurs who can grow and manufacture herbs commercially," he said.

Mohd Sharkar also said in order to further strengthen its hold on biotechnology, a government-linked company - Pahang Tech-nology Resources Sdn Bhd (PTR), had been established with the objective to see the expansion of biotechnology-related ventures.

In the offing was a Pahang Technology Park that would act as a catalyst to spur high-tech related industries and if this were to take off, it would be the first of such parks in the east coast region, he added.

On efforts to ensure ICT was moving accordingly, a Cyber Centre was already taking shape in Kuantan, Mohd Sharkar said.

"The Cyber Centre will serve as an ICT hub for the eastern region and its launch will be held soon.

"Investors will be invited to set up operations in Cyber Centre that covers three areas - Kuantan, Gambang and Tanjung Lumpur," he added.

He also said the state government estimated investments worth RM170mil to be based in Cyber Centre between 2007 and 2012.