Advancing Malaysia’s STIE Agenda Together

ASM had the pleasure to engage with the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Dato’ Ts Dr K. Nagulendran on 2 April 2026.

With a distinguished career that includes serving as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and Deputy Secretary-General (Planning and Science Enculturation) at MOSTI, his visit underscored the importance of strong institutional partnerships in shaping Malaysia’s future.

The engagement highlighted a shared commitment between ASM and MOSTI to advance the nation’s science, technology, innovation, and economy (STIE) agenda. Discussions centred on aligning policies, strengthening talent development, and driving science-based initiatives that deliver meaningful impact for the rakyat.

One of the key topics discussed during the visit was the evolving security landscape, particularly in relation to cybersecurity and the role of emerging technologies in supporting national defence. MOSTI expressed strong interest in further exploring this area. Moving forward, the aim is to foster a secure and trusted framework that enables collaboration between MINDEF, ASM, and MOSTI in developing indigenous defence technologies and capabilities.

The meeting also discussed the Mission-Oriented Initiative (MOI) on Food Security and Food Sovereignty, to be jointly developed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS). Food security was recognised as a strategic national priority, with initiatives such as the successful increase in rice production yield cited as a positive example of a mission-driven approach. The scope of the MOI is expected to be broadened to include other critical areas, such as meat production involving cattle, sheep and goats.

The Secretary-General was of the view that MOSTI should continue to take the lead in the implementation of the National Planetary Health Action Plan (NPHAP). ASM shared that it is in the process of strengthening the operationalisation of the action plan to ensure more effective implementation. This includes improved coordination and engagement with key players across the planetary health ecosystem to reinforce a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to planetary health.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) was acknowledged as an important renewable energy technology with strong potential for national development. The Secretary-General expressed agreement and support for further exploration of OTEC as part of Malaysia’s renewable energy portfolio.

The discussion concluded with deliberations on the National STEM Conference 2026 as a strategic platform for strengthening collaboration between ASM (via the Young Scientists Network) and MOSTI in advancing STEM agenda nationwide. Both parties expressed interest and looked forward to collaborating to organise the conference in the near future.

The visit reinforced the strong strategic partnership between ASM and MOSTI, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing science-driven policies and initiatives for national impact.