The Star, 31 January, 2007

Malaysians urged to venture into biotechnology

MUAR: Malaysians have been urged to venture into the biotechnological industrial sector as the manufacturing industries are cost more to operate. 

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha said the Government encouraged any party to set up biotechnological plants in the country. 

Speaking to reporters here he said the ministry and other related departments and agencies had special funds to help those interested in venturing into this sector. 

”The manufacturing sector is facing competition from other nations in the region and with the increase in land, labour and operation costs, it is no longer cheap to operate a factory. 

"However, there is room for Malaysians to venture into biotechnological industries, which offer vast marketing opportunities,” he said after launching a new biotechnological product here on Wednesday. 

Kong said the new bio-product, produced by BioFact Life Sdn Bhd's factory in Parit Jamil near Parit Jawa, was the first such bio-product produced in the country. 

He said the factory cultivated Cordiceps from rice-based materials in a strictly controlled environment for health and medicinal purposes instead of importing wild Cordyceps. 

He said the price of wild Cordyceps was about RM50,000 per kilo while the cultivated product produced by BioFact Life company cost between RM6,000 and RM7,000 per kilo. 

Earlier, BioFact Life managing director Vince Chua Wee Kok said all biotechnological products from the company were sent to the Chemistry Department for stringent tests and study. 

He said the company spent about RM10mil to set up the biotechnological factory on a half-hectare site in Parit Jamil. It focused on developing quality natural herbal products. 

"We have two major divisions here which include research and development and the manufacturing division, which makes various health supplements and medicinal products. 

"These products are in the form of capsules, liquid, tablets, pills and ointments and are marketed both in Malaysia and overseas,” he added.