31st ASM Annual General Meeting
May 14, 2026
ASM Hosts Courtesy Visit by Austrian Ambassador to Malaysia
June 24, 2026
On 14 May 2026, ASM had the honour of welcoming the Chief Secretary to the Government, YBhg Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, for a working visit.
Also present were the Secretary General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), YBhg Dato’ Ts Dr K. Nagulendran; ASM President, Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc; and members of ASM’s senior management.
In his remarks, the Chief Secretary highlighted ASM’s critical role in helping Malaysia navigate an increasingly complex and crisis-prone global landscape.
Leveraging its multidisciplinary network of experts, ASM is well-positioned to deliver integrated, evidence-based solutions and strategic insights to support government decision-making on national challenges.
During the discussion, ASM’s President shared that the Mission-Oriented Initiatives (MOI) consideration paper presented to the Prime Minister at the first meeting of the National Science Council this year received positive feedback. The Prime Minister has also expressed his intention to visit ASM and convene the Forum Ilmuwan Malaysia MADANI (FIM), which will focus on the future of STI development in the country.
The Chief Secretary expressed appreciation for ASM’s contributions and reaffirmed support for strengthening ASM’s institutional capacity, including reviewing the establishment of permanent staff positions to ensure continuity in delivering its core functions.
Two key strategic issues were raised during the session. First, the Chief Secretary emphasised the need to reduce reliance on external consultants for national studies, noting that such work can be more effectively undertaken by local think tanks, including ASM and public universities, to ensure greater value and contextual relevance for the nation.
Second, discussions focused on the ongoing Middle East crisis and its potential impact on Malaysia’s energy security and supply chains. The Chief Secretary proposed that the upcoming FIM should examine the implications of the conflict, particularly on fuel supply, fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals. Subsequently, science-, technology-, and economics-based interventions should be identified to mitigate these risks.
The Forum is also expected to deliberate on how ASM, together with the scientific community and local universities, can support the Government in addressing these challenges.
ASM Fellow, Professor Dr Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair FASc, further emphasised that insights from the ASEAN AHEAD Foresight Report could be leveraged to guide national and regional responses to prolonged crises. He noted that ASM is well placed to support not only immediate crisis management but also long-term preparedness in an era of perpetual global uncertainty.
Additional discussions included the potential adoption of a Senior Fellow model, inspired by China, to improve the mobilisation of senior scientists’ and professionals’ expertise. Features such as nationwide engagement support could enhance knowledge exchange and policy impact.
Overall, the engagement reaffirmed strong government support for ASM’s expanding role in advancing the MOI approach and addressing strategic national priorities. It also highlighted ASM’s potential to strengthen its position further as a leading STIE think tank through deeper collaboration with ministries, industry, academia, and civil society.