Kuala Lumpur: Landslide early warning systems have been installed at 40 locations across the country as of December last year, announced Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. He detailed plans for the installation of these systems in six additional locations this year, including two in Kuching and one each in Bau, Kapit, Limbang, and Miri, Sarawak.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the systems will be equipped with motion sensors, rain gauges, closed-circuit cameras, and sirens. This was disclosed by Nik Nazmi during the winding-up speech for the motion of thanks for the royal address on behalf of his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat. Additionally, Nik Nazmi mentioned that the installation of debris flow monitoring systems and fault movement benchmarks in high-geohazard-prone areas in Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, is anticipated to start by the end of this year.

In a related development, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) plans to present the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Bill to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee before it is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat for the current term. Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohamad Yusof Apdal emphasized the need for Malaysia to improve its competitiveness in STI to address challenges such as geopolitical uncertainties, changes in international trade structures, the rapid global evolution of technology, and the increasing impact of climate change.

Presently, Malaysia lacks specific national legislation to guide and coordinate STI-related activities, which intersect across multiple ministries and agencies. Mohamad Yusof highlighted this gap during the winding-up speech for the motion of thanks for the royal address on behalf of MOSTI.