[Letter to the Editor] Beyond the furniture: Empowering Sarawak’s scientists for a sustainable future

Letter to the editor. —DayakDaily.com file pic. // Photo by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Letter to the Editor

By Ts Dr Muhammad Khusairy Bakri

The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) recently took a commendable step in forming a working committee to facilitate investment in Sarawak’s furniture industry.

This move is crucial in creating opportunities and boosting the local economy. However, despite these positive strides, there remains a glaring issue: the exclusion of Sarawakian scientists and researchers working with materials like acacia, bamboo, etc.

These professionals, often experts in sustainable materials and advanced technological processes, are not being appreciated or included in Sarawak’s development plans, leaving them with no choice but to seek opportunities outside of Malaysia.

This reality calls into question the broader vision of Sarawak’s future and whether initiatives such as the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030) are genuinely serving the state’s long-term interests.

Are we simply focused on maintaining traditional industries, like furniture, or are we looking to innovate and explore new fields like construction, advanced materials, and energy?

For years, scientists working with sustainable materials such as acacia, bamboo, and other bio-based resources have been researching ways to enhance the local industry. Their work offers potential not just for producing furniture but for revolutionizing sectors like construction, energy, and sustainable manufacturing.

Yet, these professionals are sidelined, their expertise underutilized within Sarawak. Many have had to relocate to countries where innovation is encouraged, and their skills are in demand. The recent STIDC initiative, while positive for the furniture sector, underscores a larger issue: Sarawak remains overly reliant on selling raw materials. This approach neglects the vast potential of value-added industries.

Acacia and bamboo, for instance, can be used in construction to create eco-friendly building materials, insulation, and even renewable energy sources.

Current technology improved fire rating and is now able to provide better resistance to fire compared to concrete. By limiting these materials to furniture production, Sarawak misses out on these broader opportunities.

Selling raw materials has been a hallmark of Sarawak’s economic strategy for decades, but this model is unsustainable. The extraction and export of timber and other bio-based materials such as bamboo primarily benefit industries overseas, where these raw resources are processed into high-value products.

Sarawak, on the other hand, remains stuck in a lower-tier position, unable to reap the full economic benefits of its natural resources. This not only hurts Sarawak’s economy in the long run but also stifles innovation. Countries that have adopted circular economy models, turning waste into value-added products, are advancing at a rapid pace.

Sarawak, despite its vast resources, is lagging. By focusing on the furniture industry alone, the STIDC may inadvertently reinforce this limited approach.

If Sarawak aims to be a true leader in sustainable development, it must move beyond the confines of furniture manufacturing. The global demand for sustainable materials is growing, particularly in industries like construction, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Why limit these resources to chairs, tables, and cabinets when they can contribute to cutting-edge solutions in energy storage, insulation, and sustainable infrastructure? The Sarawak government and STIDC should focus on diversifying the use of these materials, ensuring that they are not just exported in raw form but used in industries that create high-value products and technological innovation.

If the Sarawak government is serious about fostering innovation and realizing the full potential of its natural resources, it must provide opportunities for local scientists and researchers.

Many of these experts are already familiar with the properties and potential of acacia, bamboo, and other sustainable materials, having worked extensively in the field. Yet, due to the lack of opportunities in Sarawak, they are forced to work abroad, contributing to the brain drain that is hampering the state’s progress.

STIDC and the government should take several actions to remedy this situation, which include creating specialized research and development hubs. Establish research hubs dedicated to exploring new applications for Sarawak’s natural resources. These hubs could focus on materials science, renewable energy, and sustainable manufacturing.

By providing scientists with the tools, funding, and support they need, Sarawak can foster innovation and attract talent from around the world. In addition to that, STIDC and the Sarawak government should offer competitive salaries and incentives to those who work with them. One of the key reasons why scientists leave Malaysia is the lack of financial incentives.

By offering competitive salaries, grants, and other benefits, the Sarawak government can encourage local talent to stay and contribute to the state’s development. This would also attract international experts who could collaborate on cutting-edge projects. STIDC and the Sarawak government should partner with local and global universities and companies, whereas Sarawak should not work in isolation.

By forming partnerships with international universities and companies, the state can gain access to the latest research and technologies. This collaboration would also allow local scientists to work on global projects without leaving the country.

STIDC and the Sarawak government should invest in commercialization efforts. It is not enough to research and develop new materials. Sarawak must also invest in the commercialization of these technologies, by holding patents and creating licensing for businesses to flourish.

By creating a framework for turning research into market-ready products, the state can ensure that its innovations reach consumers and contribute to the economy, with the expansion of the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030) to include advanced sectors. PCDS2030 is supposed to be a visionary strategy, but at present, it seems to be focused more on traditional industries.

As it currently stands, the strategy appears to lack substance when it comes to fostering innovation in key sectors beyond furniture and raw material exports. Is PCDS2030 merely a slogan, or is it a genuine commitment to change? The strategy claims to aim for inclusivity and sustainability, but without a focus on high-tech industries and without creating opportunities for Sarawak’s scientists, it risks falling short of its goals.

PCDS2030 must incorporate not just furniture manufacturing but also other sectors that will contribute to Sarawak’s economic resilience in the coming decades.

The people of Sarawak must demand more from their leaders. While initiatives like the STIDC working committee are important steps, they are not enough. We cannot afford to be content with being a raw material exporter.

The people of Sarawak deserve an economy that is diverse, innovative, and inclusive of all sectors and talents, especially those working at the cutting edge of sustainable development. Sarawak has the potential to be a global leader in sustainable materials, construction, and energy.

But to do so, the state must invest in its scientists, provide opportunities for innovation, and expand beyond the traditional industries that have held it back for too long. Let us ensure that PCDS2030 is not just a slogan but a real plan for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future. It’s time for Sarawak to take a bold step forward. The question remains: will the government and STIDC rise to the challenge?

Ts Dr Muhammad Khusairy Bakri is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Composite Materials and Engineering Centre, Washington State University.

This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.