The Academy of Sciences Malaysia looks back proudly in 2021 as a year of achievements and a year of organisational reform designed to foster even more excellent results. The year 2021 has materialised our capability to move progressively, focusing on undertakings to better society nationwide, particularly in the science, technology, innovation, and economy (STIE) segment. Despite the challenges, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of how the Academy has responded and the significant outcomes we have achieved.
As we endured the pandemic, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia played a proactive role in the Malaysian COVID-19 response by joining the national discourse programmes: immunisation, vaccination, and task forces. ASM, had drafted the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) handbook in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation and translated it into several languages to ensure awareness and understanding among society.
The efforts did not stop there. The Academy was also tasked to chair the Jawatankuasa Pembukaan Pusat Pemberian Vaksin (PPV) mobile drive-through and outreach for the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF). We had developed the SOP for Ventilation for COVID-19 and the SOP for setting up COVID-19 PPV at Places of Worship. Our team of data scientists from YSN-ASM also designed the plan for Malaysian drive-through vaccination centres, which was rolled out nationwide.
I am delighted to make known that ASM’s flagship report, Science Outlook 2020, is a trailblazer document on many fronts. The theme ‘Unlocking the Future’ is the first ASM report to include growth trajectory modelling and strategic foresight to future-proof Malaysia’s STI policy development and implementation. Together with the inputs from our strategic partners and other relevant stakeholders, this is the first Science Outlook report that had adopted the ecosystem approach to scan Malaysia’s progress in the pillars of the economy, society, and environment within 30 years. To date, the report has been downloaded 1194 times from 28 countries.
Academy of Sciences Malaysia continues to be the nation’s STI purpose-driven agency under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. In playing the role of the thought leader and changemaker, the re-establishment of WEHAB++ committee (Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity) displayed ASM’s focus on Planetary Health and other cross-cutting issues to contribute effectively to the nation.
The re-establishment of the WEHAB++ committee will deep dive exchange of ideas and solutions related to Planetary Health. Following the previous reports and studies that we had done like Science Outlook, Small Interest Group (SIG) on COVID-19, Zoonotic Diseases, Precision Biodiversity and Blue Economy, the Academy had curated the findings and presented a paper on the Planetary Health concept to Malaysia’s High-Tech Nation Council on 5th November 2021. The paper was also accepted to be tabled in the National Science Council meeting in April 2022.
A significant milestone for ASM in 2021 is also visible in the work and policy collaboration with multiple ministries. The Academy has been appointed by MOSTI as a strategic partner to review and update the 2016 draft of the National Nanotechnology Policy and Strategy (NNPS) to develop NNPS 2021-2030. This review provides strategic direction and strengthens the national nanotechnology sector.
Aside from that, the Academy has been working closely with the Economic Planning Unit and the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) on the commission study of Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST2040). As a strategic partner, ASM has been tasked to review and analyse current policies, undertake comparative strategy analysis/business models, study the potential of the nation’s water sector industry, prepare a Transformation Strategy and Initiative Implementation Framework, undertake consultations with Stakeholders and Experts, and prepare a complete roadmap for the National Agenda on the WST2040.
Continuity of reaching out to extensive networking groups globally has always been ASM’s agenda. In adapting to the new norm, the Academy has organised a few breakthrough events to enhance interdisciplinary knowledge sharing, learning and collaboration between local scientists in Malaysia and worldwide. The YSN-ASM International Scientific Virtual Conference 2021 became one of the highlights that offered an inclusive platform to address national, regional, and global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration within the ASEAN region.
ASM also partnered with the Mahathir Science Award Foundation in organising the International Conference on Tropical Sciences – Contribution to Sustainability (TropSc 2021) to continue the footprint of championing Planetary Health. The conference focuses on four themes: tropical architecture, tropical medicine, tropical agriculture, and tropical natural resource.
I am also proud to address that ASM’s fellows have been recognised internationally. For 2021, we have our experts representing Malaysia as a member of the UNESCO Open Science Advisory Committee, a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Science Council and selected as a Fellow in The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). The acceptance of our fellows shows how they can share values and wisdom with the global community on STIE.
ASM, in addition, fostered its relationship with its extensive network of partners throughout the year. The significant collaboration with other academy bodies will drive to synergise issues on STI locally and globally collectively. On 6th October 2021, the Academy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Scientific Collaboration in Research to foster the STI collaboration with the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology (PALAST). Our Academy also strengthens its engagement in the effort to cultivate a better bond with different science bodies around the world. In April and July this year, we met virtually with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Academy of Sciences Turkmenistan. The meeting delves into developing scientific ties between Malaysia and the two countries where it would also see the possibilities for future cooperation in specific areas of science and innovation.
At ASM, we are always looking to increase the capacity and capability of the great minds in Malaysia to contribute to a better nation. ASM aspires to strengthen its mark as the thought leader nationwide. With 836 expert networks, the figure currently represents the biggest intellectual gathering in Malaysia under an agency. ASM introduced the East Coast, Sabah, and Sarawak Chapter in 2021 and, in doing so, completed the ASM Chapters nationwide, including the Northern and Southern Chapters.
Following the expansion of our chapters, various programmes had been done extensively to share our insights in the STIE field. ASM had done about 241 activities throughout 2021 that covered programmes, webinars, workshops, and stakeholders’ engagement. This activity has also made ASM more visible to the public. ASM’s social media platforms show significant progress in how we connect with the community. ASM this year has close to 50,000 followers across all platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.
From the inaugural strategic plan 13 years ago, the Academy has made a lot of progress and received many praises for the work that we had done. The Academy’s journey now continues as it focuses on the second strategic plan, from 2021 to 2025, in which the Academy aspires to play a crucial role in pushing for advancement and elevating itself as a changemaker guided by the WOW mindset (World-class, Outstanding and Winnable).
This strategic plan will focus on five new missions and five new goals to achieve the vision, with a national and international concentration on three STIE impact areas (economic development, societal well-being, and environmental sustainability). I am confident that our Expert Network (Senior Fellows, Fellows, TRSM, Associates, and YSN-ASM) will give their experience and ability to this cause.
Building on ASM’s excellent achievements in 2021, let us continue to strive for greater heights and have more memorable successes in the future.
Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail FASc.