From Biodiversity to Biomedicine: Sarawak’s Regenerative Medicine Drive Gets RM50 Million Boost
Reading Time: 3 minutesA flower of the Bintangor tree (Calophyllum species), native to the rainforests of Borneo. The tree has shown promising potential in scientific research, with compounds derived from it being investigated for their potential in developing therapies for cancer and HIV, as well as applications in regenerative medicine. Sarawak is proposing a RM50 million investment to […]
When a Glacier Falls: The Science Behind the Kailash Flash Floods
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat looked like nature’s sudden fury was in fact a complex chain reaction of rock, ice, water and gravity — with a warming Himalaya adding a troubling new dimension. For pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, the Himalayas are a landscape of faith — immense, silent and seemingly immovable. But mountains move. The deadly flash flood […]
The Science of Haze: When a Fire in Kalimantan Becomes Sarawak’s Air
Reading Time: 5 minutesSarawak under haze: Smoke from fires in neighbouring Indonesia has reduced visibility across parts of Sarawak, highlighting the health and environmental consequences of transboundary air pollution. For communities living near the West Kalimantan border, the annual haze is more than an environmental concern — it affects the air they breathe, outdoor activities and the health […]
Gunung Kanthan: Ancient Limestone, Rare Life and an Uncertain Future
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe ancient limestone hill is home to rare biodiversity and the century-old Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, both now facing pressure from quarrying activities. Environmentalists and civil society groups in Malaysia rarely get a moment to catch their breath. If it is not another dam being built in Borneo, flooding vast tracts of forest and threatening hundreds […]
Sabah puts agriculture at the centre of nearly RM1 billion development push
Reading Time: 4 minutesSabah’s agriculture remains central to the state’s economy, sustaining livelihoods and communities across its rural areas. Sabah is putting agriculture at the centre of its economic development strategy, with nearly RM1 billion allocated this year for agriculture, industry and tourism as the state seeks to turn the economic potential of its districts into investment, jobs […]
Sarawak bets on biodiversity to enter US$4.3 trillion global biotech market
Reading Time: 4 minutesSarawak’s rich biodiversity — from its rainforests and diverse plant life to its vast genetic resources — is emerging as a strategic asset in the state’s ambition to capture a share of the global biotechnology market. Sarawak is positioning its vast biodiversity as a foundation for entering the global biotechnology economy, with Premier Datuk Patinggi […]
New rice variety offers Sarawak path to greater food security
Reading Time: 2 minutesMIRI — Sarawak is looking to a new perennial rice variety to strengthen food security and reduce its heavy dependence on imported rice after a pilot project in Kuala Baram showed promising results. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the perennial rice technology could mark a significant breakthrough for Sarawak’s agrofood […]
Concrete jungle, living wilderness: Discovery of rare snake reveals Singapore’s wild side
Reading Time: 2 minutesSINGAPORE — Beneath the glass towers, expressways and housing estates of one of the world’s most densely urbanised cities, nature continues to reveal its hidden wonders. The recent sighting of the elusive blue-necked keelback at MacRitchie Reservoir is a reminder that Singapore’s forests remain home to extraordinary wildlife that survives alongside the city. The rare […]
Rare Seabird Reappears in Sarawak After a Century
Reading Time: 3 minutesRare Seabird Reappears in Sarawak After a Century In a remarkable turn of events, the Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini), one of the world’s rarest seabirds, has been sighted off the coast of Asajaya, Sarawak, over a century since its last confirmed appearance in the region. The sighting, which occurred in February 2024, has stirred […]
Taking the bull by the horns to save the Borneo buffalo
Reading Time: 2 minutesRECENTLY, classified as critically endangered the race is on to save banteng – the iconic buffalo of Borneo known as Banteng (Bos javanicus). Speaking to local media recently, the Sabah Wildlife Department director Roland Nuin said the state had implemented an action plan – the Bornean Banteng Action Plan for 2019-2028 – in the race […]