Sarawak Science Centre construction at 85.35 completion, soft launch expected next July

KUCHING (Dec 1): The Sarawak Science Centre (SSCiEX) is on track for completion this month, with a soft launch targeted for July 2026, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said construction for the centre has reached 85.35 per cent completion.

He noted that SSCiEX has already begun engaging students through a series of established programmes to spark interest in science and technology.

“These include the STEM Catalyst Raspberry Pi 2025 workshops, participation in National Science Week, and the ‘Kembara Sains Borneo’ travelling exhibition which reached 14 schools,” he said during his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

To ensure equitable access to quality STEM education, he said the Common Science Lab (CSL) initiative has been developed under the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) for schools lacking facilities beginning with the Sarawak Biovalley Pilot Plant.

“Based on this success, the SRDC Council has approved the expansion of the CSL under Projek Rakyat to five new locations, which are Serian, Kapit, Betong, Sri Aman, and Lawas,” he said.

Sagah also updated the august House on the progress of the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), where the physical development of the project stands at 40.19 per cent as of last month, with completion scheduled for October next year.

“Since beginning its operations in February 2024, SIDC has expanded its work across research, administration, and facility management.

“Current works prioritise research on disease prevalence, diagnostics, and early vaccine and biotherapeutic capability, focusing specifically on diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria, dengue, African swine fever, rabies, filariasis, and soil-transmitted parasitic infections,” he said.

He said SIDC has consolidated partnerships for diagnostics, vaccine development, and surveillance, including NDAs with Quantoom Biosciences and EnsiliTech to support the VaxBioD vaccine programme under 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) worth RM50 million, targeting Sarawak’s first home grown vaccine by 2030.

“Disease surveillance conducted in Bau, Padawan, Serian, and Sri Aman will expand statewide in 2026.

“This expansion will be supported by two major elimination programmes namely the Sarawak Cervical Cancer Elimination Programme, funded at RM18 million; and the Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, funded at RM15 million,” he said.

He also said that additionally, SIDC has launched the PhenomeSk cohort to build Sarawak’s genome database and advance precision medicine for local populations.

“SIDC is rapidly enhancing its research and talent capacity through high-impact international collaborations and funding, including the establishment of the Ali Wallace Joint Research and Training Centre with Murdoch University, which will see an offshore SIDC office opened in Australia by mid-2026 to facilitate shared expertise and training,” added Sagah.