Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said the centre will focus on new drugs and products that can be used to control and mitigate tropical diseases.

“I think we are the first in Malaysia to do that (focus on tropical diseases),” he told reporters after the launch of the International Conference on Innovative Sciences and Technologies for Research and Education at the Universiti Teknologi Mara Samarahan campus today.

He said the centre is expected to be completed in 2024.

With its establishment, Abang Johari said, local and international scientists, academicians and the state government can collaborate on research and development initiatives.

“Our scientists can work with other credible institutions, namely the Oxford and Cambridge universities as well as Imperial College London, to identify source materials to develop new drugs.

“Once we manage to develop a new drug, I believe we can also work with the pharmaceutical industry,” he said.

Abang Johari said this is one of the initiatives to manage the economy post-Covid-19. “We don’t know what’s next (outbreak of new diseases). Hence, I believe we should invest in research and development as well as green technology to ensure sustainability.”

He also said the state government has ventured into the use of hydrogen fuel as part of its commitment towards a cleaner environment.