INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS

1. The Government has been urging Malaysians to do research and development and to be innovative. The response may not be overwhelming but quite a number have tried. They usually find no one to finance them in the development of their original and innovative ideas. And many gave up.

2. Others scrape some money to pay for their research and many lost the few Ringgits that they have not because their ideas are bad but because they do not have enough money to complete their research and development.

3. But a few succeeded and came up with functional products. But will they really work? They need to test out on a reasonable scale. For this they need more money. But no one would put up money on something that is uncertain.

4. People with money have been successful doing something else. Though they could afford to allocate the money for the final tests, they are comfortable making money with what they are doing.

5. Others just could not understand the technology. If it is an improvement on their products they would not like to see a competing product.

6. For a thousand reasons nobody wants to put money into inventions and innovations.

7. Finally when the product is proven nobody in Malaysia would buy something invented by Malaysians in Malaysia.

8. Frustrated they come to see me, to demonstrate their products. While some are of doubtful value, many are really good products and should be worth investing in or buying. They can be quite unique Malaysian inventions, can help make Malaysia known for its innovativeness and inventive capacity.

9. If investors would help finance their development and production Malaysian inventors and Malaysia would gain a name for inventiveness and innovative skill.

10. Some of these people have gone abroad with their product samples. But invariably they would be asked if Malaysia is using them. When they shake their heads, that was the end of the presentation. But some Malaysians actually succeed in foreign countries even when they can sell none in Malaysia.

11. Some suggest that the Government should in whatever way possible extend help. Maybe this can be an answer. Maybe Government can finance the final phase of the research and test of concepts. Maybe the Government might buy for its own use.

12. But it is very doubtful that the officers manning the Government agencies would want to buy anything untried produced by Malaysians. Even if the product proves to be workable and even cheaper than what the Government is presently using, there would be a great reluctance to terminate the present suppliers, even after the contract is finished.

13. The products I have identified which have real potential include a security system for video discs, additives for fuel products, conversion of waste to oil, conversion of padi husks to charcoal, uses of oil palm waste, electronic information systems etc. If we want to see Malaysian original products reach the market, Government officers must not look for returns on investments but must accept that in research, development and innovations, the risks are very high. But even if one in ten make the grade, in the long run it will pay. Government must be prepared to lose money if it expects Malaysians to go seriously into research and development.

14. The Government, the civil servants, the business community need to change their mindsets if Malaysia is serious about research and development.

80 thoughts on “INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS”

  1. My last coment on 15 July 2010 on Inovation ….
    Among other thing about my basic prototype research on Intergration and Inovation for sustainable Agricultutre. In involves rabbit ,goat,chicken,fresh water fishes in agriculturfe/crop farm..It is sucessful . Next step to improves all the prototype design and increase in leverage plus economic evaluation. Those research begining from Jan to October using my own fund.
    Next step is to get involvement Ministry of Science,Department of Veternary,fishery and Department of Agriculkture..

  2. There are impressive products and ideas from our local universities e.g Engrg Faculty, UM for renewable energy applications.
    However, renewable energy products require large scale pilot test to prove its worthiness and to evaluate other impacts.
    This are among the steps need to be taken to further up our inventions and innovations.
    Also, our uniform building by laws should be revised to be inline with current technologies and energy efficiency levels.

  3. Tun,
    Thanks for the great commentary.
    I have been covering Malaysian developers, especially those of ICT products for years and have published the articles and I share your frustrations.
    The Silly Con Valley venture capital model which we have been adoting apparently has not worked all that well, so why not we think up our own solutions.
    Firstly, let’s look at Japan and South Korea, where most of their products are coming out of large conglomerates – ie called “sogoshosha” and “chaebol” respectively.
    Why don’t we get our large corporations, including government linked corporations to invest in the developer’s work with shared rights to the intellectual property and rights to market it.
    After all, these organisations have the funds and the marketing and support infrastructure to promote and maintain these products and services.
    Secondly, forget the “free trade” “globalisation” nonsense and require especially Malaysian government offices and GLCs to buy Malaysian first to support our local innovators and developers.
    Back in the 1980s, while I was a computer service engineer with Rediffusion, we were the local distributor for several British products, including a telex interface unit which let users type out their telex on a PC using a word processor and print it into the Telexbox, which would then proceed to send the telex to the recipient, while incoming telexes were printed out and also stored in the OC.
    Through that I learned that American multinationals based in Malaysia gave first preference to U.S. made products obtainable here and only bought products from other countries if no equivalent U.S. product was available.
    Thankfully, the Telexbox was unique, so we sold a few to U.S. multinational operating here but the point is that they gave preference to products from their own country, so why don’t Malaysian government departments, agencies and companies do the same?

  4. Salam,
    Saya tertarik dengan idea saudara nahar tentang program melahirkan pereka-cipta seperti program realiti di tv. Jika kita perhatikan kandungan siaran yang dipaparkan oleh stesen tv di negara kita, rancangan yang mempromosikan ke arah menjadi artis itu lebih banyak daripada melahirkan pereka-cipta atau saintis. Jadi macam mana generasi muda nak terdorong ke arah itu?
    Kreativiti dan innovasi memerlukan daya fikir yang tinggi. Semangat yang kental diperlukan untuk mencuba dan terus mencuba kerana sesuatu penyelidikan yang dilakukan bukannya terus menjadi. Atas sebab kesukaran seperti inilah menyebabkan tidak ramai yang berminat nak menceburi bidang ini. Ramai lebih suka buat sesuatu yang mudah tetapi senang dapat duit banyak. Kesannya budaya berR&D tidak subur dalam masyarakat dan negara terpaksa membayar harga yang mahal untuk membeli teknologi luar.
    Tetapi kalau budaya R&D ini disuburkan dalam masyarakat terutama kepada golongan muda dengan mempromosikan aktiviti ini di media-media massa kita, tidak mustahil suatu hari nanti rakyat negara kita berubah wajah dan mampu bersaing dengan negara luar dalam bidang teknologi.
    Jepun dan Korea dahulu pun bukannya “kuasa besar” dalam bidang teknologi. Namun mereka berjaya mengubah keadaan seperti yang kita nampak pada hari ini.
    Sudah pasti ada mekanisma tertentu yang terdapat dalam diri masyakat mereka sehingga mendorong mereka maju ke hadapan. Apakah mekanisma itu tidak ada dalam diri kebanyakan rakyat di negara kita?

  5. Assalammualaikum Ayahanda Tun dan isteri,
    Semoga dipanjangkan umur dan dirahmati Allah S.W.T,
    Saya ingin mengulas mengenai Inovator pada kali ini. Di sini saya sertakan 2 petikan, yang di atas adalah satu petikan daripada New Straits Times pada 24 July 2010 dan satu petikan adalah cadangan yang saya letakkan dalam laman web Ayahanda Tun, Che Det dalam tajuk BUSES FOR RAPID KL (Oktober 2009). Saya juga telah meletakkan idea saya dalam Facebook Dato Seri Najib selepas itu. Selepas lapan bulan, GAMUDA-MMC telah membentangkan cadangan MRT yang berharga rm 36 billion untuk kelulusan kerajaan. Jika diperhatikan, cadangan saya diterima bulat2 oleh GAMUDA_MMC dan kerajaan. Oleh itu, mohon Ayahanda Tun meaklumkan kepada PM supaya pengiktirafan dapat diberikan kepada rakyat yang menyumbangkan idea/buah fikiran/inovasi untuk kesejahteraan semua rakyat Malaysia. Saya bukan mahukan wang, tetapi cukup dengan surat penghargaan daripada PM untuk saya dan sebagai semangat kepada anak-anak saya untuk menjadi jurutera/manusia berguna pada akan datang. Terimakasih.
    Saturday, July 24, 2010, 01.34 AM
    RM30b MRT PLAN
    By Kang Siew Li and Jeeva Arulampalam
    [email protected]
    KUALA LUMPUR: A special task force has been set up within the Cabinet Committee on Public Transport to study a proposal for a new three-line mass rapid transit
    (MRT) system costing more than RM30 billion.
    Sources told the New Straits Times that Gamuda Bhd and MMC Corp Bhd had submitted a joint proposal to the government for a new MRT system to improve public transport in the Klang Valley.
    While it aims to integrate the monorail and light rail transit (LRT) systems, the MRT lines will also connect the northwest and southeast of the Klang Valley.
    The committee is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
    It is understood that one of the lines will run through Sungai Buloh, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Cheras until Kajang. Another line will connect Sungai Buloh, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur and Serdang. The third line will loop around believed that Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd may have to redesign an upcoming development to facilitate this MRT line.

  6. Assallamualaikum w.b.t Ayahanda Tun dan isteri,
    Semoga dipanjangkan umur dan dirahmati Allah S.W.T.
    Suka saya bercerita mengenai Innovators for MRT project
    RM 36 billion. Dibawah ini adalah petikan suratkhabar dari New Straits Times tentang MRT dan dibawah sekali adalah cadangan pembinaan LRT yang saya masukkan dalam tajuk BUSES FOR RAPID KL pada 25 November 2009. Seterusnya saya juga telah memajukan pandangan saya ini dalam Facebook Dato Seri Najib mengenai cadangan ini. Selepas saya cadangkan, lapan bulan kemudian GAMUDA-MMC membentangkan projek untuk MRT yang menghubungkan hampir kesemua tempat yang saya telah cadangkan yang membabitkan kos sebanyak RM 36 billion. Saya amat berharap agar Ayahanda Tun dapat menyampaikan kepada PM agar penghargaan atau pengiktirafan perlu diberikan kepada rakyat yang menyumbangkan idea/inovasi untuk kesejahteraan semua rakyat Malaysia. Saya bukan mahukan wang tetapi cukup sekadar satu surat pengiktirafan dari PM untuk saya simpan dan memberi semangat kepada anak-anak saya untuk menjadi jurutera/manusia berguna pada masa hadapan. Saya adalah orang yang sama, pernah menulis mengenai saat-saat kematian ayah saya kerana kanser.
    NEW STRAITS TIMES
    Saturday, July 24, 2010, 01.34 AM
    KUALA LUMPUR: A special task force has been set up within the Cabinet Committee on Public Transport to study a proposal for a new three-line mass rapid transit
    (MRT) system costing more than RM30 billion.
    Sources told the New Straits Times that Gamuda Bhd and MMC Corp Bhd had submitted a joint proposal to the government for a new MRT system to improve public transport in the Klang Valley.
    While it aims to integrate the monorail and light rail transit (LRT) systems, the MRT lines will also connect the northwest and southeast of the Klang Valley.
    The committee is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
    It is understood that one of the lines will run through Sungai Buloh, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Cheras until Kajang. Another line will connect Sungai Buloh, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur and Serdang. The third line will loop around
    Kuala Lumpur

  7. YABhg Tun,
    …teaching maths & science from English to Malay…..
    that’s innovation for you….sir!!

  8. Tun, what a joke about inventors and innovators IN Malaysia. it’s better and more valuable to file patents outside Malaysia but again under Malaysian law, malaysia must get waiver to file outside the country. Fail to understand the rationale. May be Tun can explain. I file a joint PCT with a very reputable company in US and in process of patent filing. Enlighten me what can I do in Malaysia, what support do I get? I am willing to meet you to show you the invention.

  9. Tun; salam sejahtera dan bersua lagi.
    Memang ramai yang telah mencuba (buat R & D and innovative idea) tetapi terhenti separuh jalan; dan ada yang give up dengan berbagai sebab dan alasan. Antara kelemahan yang dikenalpasti ialah TIDAK INOVASI dan proaktif dalam usaha penampilan dan promosi produk.
    Antara yang kita biasa dengar namanya ialah Zulkifli Harun. Selain dari itu ada agensi kerajaan seperti Mardi, RRI, Porim dan sebagainya yang sekali sekala kita dengar ada dihebahkan melalui Media Penyiaran Elektronik.
    Program Astro

  10. Yes Inovation bring sucess
    From Myth
    ust like parts of Christian mythology was adopted from Rome.
    And parts of Roman mythology was aopted from Greece
    And parts of Greek mythology was adopted from Egypt.
    Parts of Egyptian mythology was adopted from Babylon! :jawdrop:
    Oh yes……
    Malcolm X said: I know you don’t like my saying this!
    The Myth the people are big size 9 feet tall,they are call gods later worship as Maduk in Sumeria and Ra in Eygpt etc.
    When 12 Moses spy went to Phelestine in now Gaza they refuse to attack because there big size Phelestine-giants-so jew wonders in Senai over 38 years. Before Joshua lead them to fight Phelestine…
    The last Giant is Goliah who duel with Devid in Bible
    How did Devid beat Goliath big size,amour and big sword?
    Devid innovation is swing stone with practice his skill he can target Goliah bare fore head! Goliah was killed Jew won over Phelestine native
    THAT HOW INOVATION WORKS
    History has shown that British newly invented Radar code name window can dectect potential German Air Attack that won them in Battle of Britain…
    Those are classic example..
    Japanese copy and inovate won them in trade of Eletronic Products and Cheap Cars over former colonial and western power.
    In agriculture they have IMO – Indigenious Microbe to make ecologicaly Bio friendly fertilizer. So do Korea. we quickly copy them – not bad if you can’t innovate at least copy and modify!!!
    Malaysia Tropical country produce alot of biomass-husk is one of them.But we have plants considered as weeds but like water Allah give wealth . Grass etc. Bangla said you can be rich if you have this in BangladesH- grass too is scace there!!
    Now I am working on how to capitalise on the weed. People may see it as rediculus,mad,small mind,small scale . working with rabbit,chicken,goat to weed grass by intergrating with agriculture and fish and the water as organic ferilizer.
    Inovation is can be small to start a viable unit system. Once you establish a system multiplication is no problem…..capital leverage.Until I am sucessful Department of Agriculture probably think I am mad not their Job but vertinary Department. Creative mind never welcome because more work.
    Ferigation on Gazebo was started by me in 2004 . I works but no one continues now they want to make a roof.Prophert are not always welcome until next generation. So you have to continue.

  11. Dear Tun,
    Thank you for bringing up this issue. I hope you can find time to dedicate more effot on this area instead of Perkasa.
    I think most of the comments are right, but since no one brought up what I thought was the most important, I am writing this up:
    1. I believe the most important thing we can do to create a market place or functioning investment in Innovation and R&D is to place more scientists and engineers in power and in charge. In the Dewan Rakyat, the percentage of MPs with scientific and engineering training is too small. Technocrats are not a leading force in Malaysia. In almost all arms of the government, GLCs and other related bodies, those in power are lawyers, doctors, accountants, political scientists etc. The British has come to realize this and has a program to rectify this situation in their own country.
    2. With few scientists and engineers in power, decisions are made by those that are not fit or qualified to judge the merits of the work.
    3. So inevitably bad decisions are made on investment and funding to the innovations and inventions.
    4. On top of this, our society is full of distortions. I.e. the best person is not the one at the top and not the one making the right decisions. The best companies are not awarded the contracts and the best products are not bought. Most companies do not rely on innovation to survive and they rely on their relationship with the government or political parties. Therefore, they do not spend on innovation and R&D but spend more on maintaining the cosy relationship with their breadmaster.
    5. Remove these distortions and secrecy and open up all sectors for fair, open and transparent competition. Then we will see a huge increase in innovative products.
    6. We need to be patient and have respect for knowledge. For example, it took many years for scientists to collect all sort of plants from all over the British Empire and the world before they commercialized the planting of Rubber in Malaysia. As we are always in a hurry, we tend not to respect the work of scientists that has been patiently gathering data. We only like to see the person who actually found the rubber tree. We need to change our mentality and understand that science is not magic. We really do need to spend years and years to build up our society’s scientific and engineering capacity to enjoy the fruits of innovations. Else, we will only fall prey to all sorts of con-artists and pseudo-scientists claiming they can turn lead into gold. There is no short cut, just hard work and we need to appreciate that.
    7. In order to achieve that, we should elevate the status of scientists in Malaysia. Every Anugerah Sains receipient should be made a Datuk and every scientific honour internationally should come with a suitable title locally. At the same time, we should expose those with fake or bought qualifications and only those that has earned their doctorates etc should be honored.
    Thank you.
    KB

  12. The sad thing about Malaysian inventors is that they tend to think that the Governmentand owe them a grant and the whole world owe them a living every time they come up with an idea and particularly after they had filed for a patent.
    In reality, they should realise that anybody can file for a patent on the most craziest and worthless idea. Do they qualify for a grant as well?
    And another question is, at what stage should an inventor start asking for a grant?
    1) Prototype – he got an idea and it is roughly scribble on some sheet of paper. He don’t even know if they are patentable or someone already had a patent on it. He had not done any market studies on it and do not really know much about it’s commercial potential. He need the money to do a prototype, patent filling and
    minor market studies.Bet he wouldn’t put any of his own dollar into it cos he himself isn’t so confident that it is something with a WOW factor. Yet, he will be very anxious to get a grant cos it will be someone else money should he fail.
    What’s on his mind is “Got a grant, I will do, no grant, I won’t do”. I think many of the grant hopefuls fall in this category.
    2) Working model – He had already come up with a prototype. Not to scale but it show the basic working principle of his idea. He need the money to make a working model to show the ‘proof of concept’ or to build a pilot plant.
    3) Manufacturing – Now, he need the money to build the factory, buy the machineries and material to start productions.
    4) Marketing – He is now asking for grants for promotions and marketing..
    5) Working capital – ? Surely he need money for this too?
    Wow, if a guy come in on the day he got the idea, he could be coming in at every stage of the ‘journey’ to his success and should at any where of time, he is denied the grant, that could be his reason for failing as an Inventor or Innovator in Malaysia and he will blames everyone else except himself….
    Cheers~
    RobestYong

  13. I like this post very much. It is very true. I couldn’t agree more. Usually a company will evaluate something in dollars and cents, short return on investment – profit comes first, that sometimes good ideas are being rejected too early. Don’t they know R&D takes time? Don’t they understand that R&D does not make money immediately? R&D is for the future, a better one.

  14. Salam Tun,
    1. I would like to represent the youths and youngsters in Malaysia to express my understanding towards this issue. As I am now growing through this stage of my life, I believe that many of us are capable of giving out interesting ideas for others to share about.
    2. However, there is a wall that we need to break through in order to let it happen, such as gaining support. From my point of view, a majority of the nation has been underestimating each other that cause us being left out. Hence, the valuable thoughts would just fade away without further implications.
    3. In other words, I suppose, the government should also implement an action to get the people together through interesting programs that many can participate. Spending some amount to handle an occasion like the Youth Festival and such can bring a great impact to have the people mix around healthily and actively with the community.
    4. Perhaps something like “Youth Innovation Festival” should be held in order to find talents from people of my age. The more important thing is, to use up all the creative ideas without wasting them.
    5. Furthermore, once a young commitment is found, there will be a chance and extra time to create a better structure of “repairing” what’s not perfect from a certain idea taken.
    6. Other than that, new successes of inventions and innovations may increase the number of productivity in our country. This, in the long run may at the same time help the increment or maintenance of at least a constant 7 to 8 percent of our GDP by 2020.
    7. I also suggest that by right, to be able to transform Malaysia into a developed country, we should also consider developing the people’s mindset all at once in a positive line of graph.
    8. All in all, working together, like what you’ve always mentioned, Tun, is the only possible way to ensure that we reach our milestones before reaching our primary goal, 2020. So I hope, Malaysia will not only imply full employment for the economy but also a maximum capacity that we can cope.
    9. I hope that this piece of mind would be considered an idea too.

  15. Salam sejahtera Tun; jumpa lagi.
    Bidang Rekacitpa dan inovasi memang memerlukan jumlah perbelanjaan tertentu, bergantung kepada jenis rekacipta dan penyelidikan yang hendak dilakukan. Untuk menghasilkan sesuatu PROTOTYPE tidak semestinya menggunakan bahan yang mahal-mahal. Malahan bahan-bahan terpakai mungkin boleh digunakan.
    Kecuali penyelidikan khusus seperti dalam bidang kimia, biologi, bioteknologi dan sebagainya yang memerlukan makmal khusus.
    Saya amat berminat dalam bidang elektrik/elektronik dan remote control. Banyak bahan terbuang daripada peralatan elektrik dan elektronik yang rosak, sebahagiannya masih boleh di guna semula komponen-komponen yang di perlukan, asalkan kita tahu jenis dan kegunaannya.
    Kata Tun ramai yang telah mencuba (R & D and innovative idea) tetapi terhenti separuh jalan; dan ada yang give up dengan berbagai sebab dan kemungkinan.
    1} Tiada Inovasi Pemasaran dan Penampilan Produk.
    Seperti kata Tun di Negara kita mungkin ada ramai Inventor dan innovator yang telah mencuba menghasilkan bermacam-macam rekacipta dan penyelidikan bagi menghasilkan produk baru atau produk lama melalui proses re-invention untuk diperbaiki dan ditambah nilai atau di perbaharui agar lebih baik, murah dan lebih cekap.
    **Antaranya yang masih kekal aktif menghasilkan berbagai ciptaan yang inovatif mungkin termasuk Zulkefli Harun yang kita biasa dengar namanya.
    **Tetapi malangnya mereka tidak inovatif dan proaktif dalam pemasaran dan penampilan produk supaya dapat publisiti meluas kepada publik dan seterusnya kepada pihak yang memerlukan. Akhirnya ramai yang give up kerana tidak mendapat pulangan yang diharapkan.
    Masaalah yang mereka timbulkan kepada Tun ialah; tidak ada pihak yang mahu jadi penaja dari segi kewangan. Walaupun sesuatu produk itu telah terbukti bagus, dan setelah melalui tahap ujian penetapan standard, namun sukar pula untuk di komersialkan kerana tidak ada pihak yang ingin membelinya.
    Berbalik kepada tajuk pokok yang diajukan Tun, masaalah ini timbul kerana tiada inovasi dalam aspek penampilan produk dan pemasaran. Walaupun inovasi produk telah dihasilkan dan terbukti boleh bekerja dengan baik, tetapi tidak ada usaha yang inovatif dan proaktif untuk memasar & mempromosikan produk tersebut.
    Contohnya; Agensi Kerajaan seperti Mardi, Porim, Universiti dan sebagainya banyak menghasilkan rekacipta produk tetapi tidak dapat dipasarkan kerana tidak mengamalkan cara PEMASARAN BERINOVATIF agar produk itu dapat publisiti meluas secara berterusan yang boleh diketengahkan dan di komersialkan.
    Kerap kita dengar apabila sesuatu penyelidikan itu pada mulanya dihebahkan melalui media massa kerana menyertai sesuatu pertandingan tetapi akhirnya, setelah tamat pertunjukan; semua hasil ciptaan itu tersimpan didalam stor dan terbiar terus dilupakan.
    2) Masaalah Dana

  16. Dear Tun,
    There are many challanges to bringing new innovative products to the market. Let alone making it profitable and a world beater.
    It cannot happen just by providing the fund for R&D and a Business Plan.
    It needs more than that.
    It requires a whole system of proper infrastructure, processes and framework.
    Modelling the Venture Capitalist approach is one of them. Don’t misunderstand it as another “capitalist” tool..it is basically another Investment avenue which can be high cost and high risk. We can reduce this risk with better available support provided by the NGOs, Business associations, etc..with the right prompting from the goverment. The goverment MUST not be directly involves in the effort. They must instead provide the right impetus for the private sector and business associations.
    Making a business with its new business model or new innovative product viable needs a considerably wide skill sets and talent. Most times no one person can have all these skills and talents.
    What can be done is to provide facilitation of such ventures by service providers or inventors or business inovators who can team up to bring new ideas and products to market.
    Another area is to support the local businesses for them to develop new innovative products by providing R&D grants.
    The Universities are another breeding ground for new ideas and products. They need way to partner with local businesses to bring their ideas and innovations to market.
    We need to be realistic; only one of perhaps hundreds of ideas will successed to be world beaters. The rest may be mediocre or fail altogether. So we must accept failure as part and parcel to becoming successful.
    So the more ideas and products brought in the market the better the chances of getting the one world beater.
    Besides the grand innovation ideas and products, we need also encourage the Kaizen culture in our work places. Kaizen is the concept of continual improvement to our work no matter how small or big the improvement made to our work. But its got to be continuous and consistant in the work place. The small work improving innovations and ideas are the ones that can sustain Kaizen in the work place.

  17. assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,
    saya setuju sangat lah dengan apa yang tun cakapkan. seperti di US, banyak research starts from government funding. like in military. GPS, internet dah banyak lagi.
    malaysia ada dah fund utk inventors. banyak juga, fund dari moste, mdec, debt ventures etc etc. terima kasih kepada tun dan menteri menteri yang berkaitan.
    tapi yang duk dalam board pun satu jugak. saya dengar sampai ada ceo of this fund manager berbangga yang dia tak keluarkan satu sen pun untuk fund ideas. pelik tapi benar, tapi inilah jadi nya bila letak orang account/finance utk lead the fund distribution. It should be the one who can digest ideas as well as enhance it dan berjiwa ikhlas.
    di amerika, every new ideas akan go through amazing funding stages. dari seed, kepada 1st round, 2nd round dan sebagainya. semua stage dah ada investor yang lined up and they work with the founder/innovator as a team.
    cuba kita fikirkan bagaimana social network seperti facebook boleh mendapat funding beratus juta US dollar walaupun masih tidak membuat untung? adakah innovator di malaysia bernasib sebaik itu?
    di malaysia, lain benar. banyaknya nak invest bila dah ada orang beli product tuh. cmon lah, kalu kita sendiri tak cobe, sapa lagi.
    di amerika, gov fund initial stage, then bila siap, diorang beli pula produk itu. jadi, ia macam complete cycle. ia memastikan rakyat anda ada pekerjaan di malaysia selain boleh menguji keberkesanan produk di negara sendiri.
    saya berdoa semoga tuhan meramaikan inventor inventor di malaysia dan menjauhkan perasaan keciwa mereka terhadap persekitaran yang kurang kondusif di sini.

  18. Salam Bahagia, Tun.
    On why Malaysian made products finds it hard to get acceptance from the Malaysian themselves, I would think that it got to do with our mentality mainly. Unfortunately, by having low quality TV commercials or exposures arena, the credibility of the product never goes higher than that of our neighbors. Unfortunate indeed.
    For example, the campaign of “Beli Barangan Malaysia” where cartoons characters were used in grainy footages to promote barangan Malaysia seems so cheap. And when the appearance seems cheap, comes the perception of inferior products. We need to copy the Australians whom I think have done a good job in promoting Made In Australia products. They slogan-ed it as “Proudly Australian Made”. And the locals are very proud to have used the products. Actual clips of their products being used are shown in Corporate buildings etc.
    Another factor that I believe could have help is our own Malaysian standards – SIRIM.
    There is not enough exposure of SIRIM and its ability or compatibility with world standards like EEC, JS, KS, TUV etc. They have to constantly upgrade themselves, and promote local industry to go higher up in quality standards and not to be satisfied with just a SIRIM standards.
    We are exposed to foreign products ever since our country was being jajah. From kids, we were brain-washed to think that any foreign products are always in better quality than locally made. We have VW Beetle cars dated back to 1960s that are still running as compare to a much younger Proton that have already seen its best of days and landed in the scrap yards.
    In short, to encourage the local to buy local products, our products must not only be of world class quality, but it must also be properly represented and accorded the level of advertisement standards that seems fit.
    Tun, I have this nagging question every time I see some films produced by Filem Negara.
    Why is it always that any documentaries made by Filem Negara is grainy and the video shoots are sketchy and the soundtracks that seems to be more at home in the 70s?
    I guess this would be another long topic for other bloggers to blog about..
    Salam Bahagia Tun.

  19. Salam Bahagia, Tun.
    On why Malaysian made products finds it hard to get acceptance from the Malaysian themselves, I would think that it got to do with our mentality mainly. Unfortunately, by having low quality TV commercials or exposures arena, the credibility of the product never goes higher than that of our neighbors. Unfortunate indeed.
    For example, the campaign of “Beli Barangan Malaysia” where cartoons characters were used in grainy footages to promote barangan Malaysia seems so cheap. And when the appearance seems cheap, comes the perception of inferior products. We need to copy the Australians whom I think have done a good job in promoting Made In Au

  20. Dear Tun, Salam Bahagia.
    Academically, we are far still in our mission to have a creative and inventive society. Our school syllabus are still at least a few years behind our neighbors. While others pupils are creating electrical diagrams and learning how to generate electricity, we are still learning what is electricity all about in the same year 2 schooling.
    I guess I leave this to the academicians to decide whether we need to overhaul the system or not.
    In reality, the local manufacturers do have creative staffs in their payroll. However, most of this once home-grown industry soon would loose out this “brains” to some more foreign companies for a simple reason – the means and technologies to convert the ideas into prototyping, and then to mass commercial production.
    We could come out with world class ideas and innovations but we do not have the support technologies to make such ideas and innovations into reality.
    Let’s take the current TV show – American Choppers. Just look at the amount of machineries at their disposal just to make a chopper bike. They have the latest 6-axis water jet CNC-ed cutting machines.
    This impressive cutting tool could carve out a design direct from concept without much hassle.
    In reality in Malaysia, not many industry have such machines. Only lately that the trend of having CNC-ed laser cutting machines become a norm. And it is too few and too costly.
    To be able to make a creative idea into reality and marketable, the supporting industry must be available to support the idea and make it a reality.
    Machineries and trade shows are too few in Malaysia. And when there is one, the participants are parthetically few. Brought on by a high fees for boot space rental.
    Tun,
    In my opinion, we should have more machineries and trade shows in Malaysia. Encourage overseas suppliers to participate in this trade shows by giving them attractive boot space rental fees and investment opportunities incentives. The Government could also encourage them by giving some tax free or tax exemptions on machineries imported into Malaysia .
    Any local companies that purchased any of such machines should be given some tax relieve such as being able to apply the cost of the machineries into the R&D fund.
    This will encourage more industry to be bold to buy such machineries and then subsequently be able to put ideas into reality.
    The industry alone cannot purchase such high technology machineries without some assistance from the Government.
    Malaysia is does not lack in brainy people. The only lacking is the fund available to buy supporting equipments to make the ideas into a reality.
    So, Tun..maybe this could be considered?
    Salam Bahagia.

  21. salam,
    1. in my opinion, the portion allocated for Research and Development in GDP best reflected the Culture of Research, Development and innovation in each nation.
    2. look at Japan or Taiwan, they spent quite a portion of their GDP over R & D thus achieved what the European achieved in 100 years only in 40 years.(i get this info during a conference recently)
    TQ

  22. Salam Kasih dan Sayang
    Ayahanda rakyat Tun
    izinkan,
    By RobestYong on July 6, 2010 10:02 PM
    Tun,
    How are you Sir? I hope that you can still recall my invention called the Polyclone Instant Rubber Stamp Machine which you helped to launch back in 1994?
    I managed to sell them to many countries such as US, Japan, Thailand etc etc and even to Papua New Guinea and Tanzania.
    Thru the years, I invented many other things and won many national and international awards. Some of my products are sold via MLM in some countries…
    Sdr Robest Yong, you are surely a Robust (surely not Young) inventor..and we are as proud a Malaysian that you are..Let them (inventions) ride and may you prosper much more.
    Take good care and May God Bless you in your endeavours.
    As usual, we say our special prayers to our Ayahanda and Bonda Tun..
    Alfatihah, Amin.

  23. Salam Kasih dan Sayang
    Ayahanda rakyat Tun
    Izinkan,
    By roslidin on July 7, 2010 5:49 AM
    I still cannot understand why there are feedbacks written in CAPS.
    It’s rude, attention seeker, indiscplined and showing to the world the immaturity of Malays in seeking a position and status of becoming 2020 advance nation.
    Chedet.cc has shown us the great differences between the blog owner and some of the writers here.
    Tun Mahathir not only trying to correct what is wrong with the country management but also teaching us the right way to giving feedbacks and opinions. Not to begged for attentions and sympathies by writing in CAPITAL Letters.
    Thanks.
    Perhaps, we shall adhere to Sdr. Roslidin etiquettes from now on but we wish to inform this etiquette lover that we have seek our Ayahanda Tun’s permission to write in CAPS in the early days of Chedet.com including our reasonings.
    Our thousand apologies to all the etiquette lovers.
    Alfatihah, Amin.

  24. Dear Tun,
    Interestingly enough that you mentioned Conversion of Waste to Oil and Additives for Fuel Products.
    We have came out with both of this innovative products and currently working with MOSTI, NCIA and the Perlis State through the Trade and Investment Exco, YBM Dato’ Seri Syed Razlan Jamalullail.
    All parties are quite aggressive in assisting us on this innovation.
    We were given extensive coverage in the media as well including the Edge.
    MOSTI – http://www.mosti.gov.my/mosti/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2878&Itemid=1
    Sinar Harian – http://www.sinarharian.com.my/utr/index.asp and http://www.sinarharian.com.my/utr/content/story7687458.asp
    Kosmo – http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2010&dt=0513&pub=Kosmo&sec=Negara&pg=ne_09.htm
    Bernama (Malay) – http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/bm/news_lite.php?id=497665
    Yahoo News – http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20100512/tbs-syngas-diesel-bm-with-pix-ceeeaba.html
    The Edge – http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/165426-saham-utama-to-launch-green-diesel-syngas.html
    Bernama Photo –
    http://fotoweb.bernama.com/fotoweb/detail.fwx?position=1&folderid=5093&search=shamsul%20bahar%20mohd%20nor&sorting=modifytime
    Bernama Photo –
    http://fotoweb.bernama.com/fotoweb/detail.fwx?position=2&folderid=5093&search=shamsul%20bahar%20mohd%20nor&sorting=modifytime

  25. I still cannot understand why there are feedbacks written in CAPS.
    It’s rude, attention seeker, indiscplined and showing to the world the immaturity of Malays in seeking a position and status of becoming 2020 advance nation.
    Chedet.cc has shown us the great differences between the blog owner and some of the writers here.
    Tun Mahathir not only trying to correct what is wrong with the country management but also teaching us the right way to giving feedbacks and opinions. Not to begged for attentions and sympathies by writing in CAPITAL Letters.
    Thanks.
    *from the one who loves etiquettes writings

  26. Dearest Tun
    Thanks zauqi for the insight into Singapore’s R&D that have seemed to have razzle-dazzled me..To sis HBT,is asking the nation to learn from our neighbour,be good friends not a good advise meh?Religion also teach us to love thy neighbour ma.Is positive competition with Singapore also not good advise ?If we have no feeling of paiseh with our neighbour, I’m afraid that one day we will be left very far behind again like those days before our Tun ..
    I agree with capello8-our Govt is encouraging pirated products by promoting Petaling Street.Najib have led the way and this is contrary to the spirit of invention and innovation.And yes capello8,we missed the days of Tun,whatever he say will be followed by pragmatic actions.Nowadays whatever PM say will be followed by pragmatic flip flop only.
    I also agree with Joe therapist when he ask Tun not to mollycuddle the investors and yes,just like him I also like to requote HakimJB ,IF OUR UNFORTUNATE LOCAL INVESTORS COME TO SEE YOU AGAIN TUN CAN YOU ASK THEM TO TRY HARDER AND NOT JUST GIVE UP..why? Because Quitters can’t be winners.
    Waalaikum salam to Owlz,and Thanks Tun.

  27. Dearest Tun
    Thanks zauqi for the insight into Singapore’s R&D that have seemed to have razzle-dazzled me..To sis HBT,is asking the nation to learn from our neighbour,be good friends not a good advise meh?Religion also teach us to love thy neighbour ma.Is positive competition with Singapore also not good advise ?If we have no feeling of paiseh with our neighbour, I’m afraid that one day we will be left very far behind again like those days before our Tun ..
    I agree with capello8-our Govt is encouraging pirated products by promoting Petaling Street.Najib have led the way and this is contrary to the spirit of invention and innovation.And yes capello8,we missed the days of Tun,whatever he say will be followed by pragmatic actions.Nowadays whatever PM say will be followed by pragmatic flip flop only.
    I also agree with Joe therapist when he ask Tun not to mollycuddle the investors and yes,just like him I also like to requote HakimJB ,IF OUR UNFORTUNATE LOCAL INVESTORS COME TO SEE YOU AGAIN TUN CAN YOU ASK THEM TO TRY HARDER AND NOT JUST GIVE UP..why? Because Quitters can’t be winners.
    Waalaikum salam to Owlz,and Thanks Tun.

  28. Dear Tun,
    If the gov is serious about R&D, first the country must have a good system in anti-corruption, to ensure that the grants reach to the deserved party instead of being wasted away.
    As an example of how bad the current situation is: Who would dare to report any “under table” cases, after learning that a past witness walked into its building but came out through the window?
    p.s. Thank you for the MSC which created and is still creating many jobs for the younger generations.

  29. Tun,
    How are you Sir? I hope that you can still recall my invention called the Polyclone Instant Rubber Stamp Machine which you helped to launch back in 1994?
    I managed to sell them to many countries such as US, Japan, Thailand etc etc and even to Papua New Guinea and Tanzania.
    Thru the years, I invented many other things and won many national and international awards. Some of my products are sold via MLM in some countries.
    I just patented a new product which will solve the un-hygienic practices of those Fast Food Outlets such as McDonalds, A&W, Burger King etc… in delivering the chilly sauces to their customers.
    McDonalds had been advertising that they are currently serving 10 millions Malaysians a month.
    Tun, if I could, I will be very honour to meet you again and to show you and talk about my inventions.
    Thank you.
    Cheers~
    RobestYong
    http://www.apanama.com.my/robest/de-inventor.php

  30. The sadness is that despite the grant given after deliberation that such product would save the Government a lot of money, the Government staff would not give such product a chance to to prove its worth. So who is to blame?

  31. Dear Tun,
    A very interesting subject which you made it a policy during your
    premiership .. Now its been how many years but still I feel it has not improved or change the ‘ mentality and approached of government
    officers ‘
    The private sector have allocated its annual budget for R & D and this
    produced good results for the company coz research are done to improve
    the production or product.
    I feel the Government must play a major part to promote ‘REAL INVENTIONS AND INNOVATORS’. Set up a team ,which will look into all
    inventions sent by individuals or companies ..asses …analyse …
    Anything that is moved by the government will help ..and more and
    more people will get involved ..

  32. Dearest Tun,
    The Government has always been receptive to innovation and ideas. Back since Tun

  33. Salam Ayahanda Tun yang disayangi,
    1. Maafkan saya kerana apa yang ingin diperkatakan di sini adalah tidak berkait secara langsung berkenaan

  34. Tun; Salam bahagia dan sihat selalu.
    Syarikat Kerajaan, syarikat swasta dan syarikat individu milik tempatan harus mempelopori Reka Cipta & Inovasi melalui unit R & D masing-masing, seperti yang dilakukan oleh syarikat luar Negara.
    Bagi Syarikat Kerajaan masaalah dana tidak timbul jika mereka peka secara bersungguh-sungguh untuk melakukan penyelidikan bagi menambah NILAI dan meningkatkan KUALITI barangan yang mereka keluarkan bagi menawan hati pengguna.
    Team penyelidikan yang BERWIBAWA harus ditubuhkan(milik syarikat itu sendiri) yg dapat bekerja secara berkumpulan bagi memfokuskan sesuatu penyelidikan yang telah DIFIKIRKAN pihak syarikat hendak lakukan. Sebagai contoh umpamanya; sebuah syarikat pengeluar barangan elektrik/elektronik terfikir untuk menambah nilai kepada barangan keluarannya supaya peralatan itu dapat di on/off menggunakan gelombang suara pemiliknya sendiri; selain remote atau switch.
    Dengan memperuntukan sekurang-kurangnya 5% daripada perbelanjaan operasi bagi tujuan tersebut, masaalah kekurangan dana mungkin dapat diatasai. Hasil penyelidikan pula harus dapat memberikan pulangan sewajaranya kepada Syarikat tersebut.
    Penyelidikan yang dilakukan secara individu tanpa pembiayaan memang sukar untuk dilaksanakan, malahan sering terbengkalai separuh jalan kerana kekurangan modal. Pulangan juga belum tentu memberansangkan kerana tiada ada aktiviti pengeluaran sendiri untuk digandingkan.
    Sekian setakat ini dulu Tun, TQ.

  35. Ayahanda Tun,
    Malaysia’s Papa sugar aka male’s highland root has gone global as inventor and innovator for Malaysia….
    Tuesday July 6, 2010
    Malaysia’s Sugar King Kuok has gone global
    By IZWAN IDRIS
    [email protected]
    Wilmar buys Aussie sugar maker
    PETALING JAYA: The Sugar King has gone global.
    Months after Tan Sri Robert Kuok-controlled PPB Group Bhd sold its entire local sugar operations to Felda, the billionaire once dubbed the Sugar King of Malaysia acquired Sydney-based CSR Ltd

  36. Ybhg Tun
    “…6. For a thousand reasons nobody wants to put money into inventions and innovations.
    “7. Finally when the product is proven nobody in Malaysia would buy something invented by Malaysians in Malaysia.”
    “12.But it is very doubtful that the officers manning the Government agencies would want to buy anything untried produced by Malaysians. Even if the product proves to be workable and even cheaper than what the Government is presently using, there would be a great reluctance to terminate the present suppliers, even after the contract is finished.
    “14.The Government, the civil servants, the business community need to change their mindsets if Malaysia is serious about research and development.”… by Chedet
    Semoga semua pembaca terutama, pemimpin kerajaan, pegawai kerajaan dan pelabur-pelabur tempatan memahami dan menghayati akan saranan Tun ini. Sebagai tambahan saya syurkan perkara berikut:
    1. Kerajaan menghadkan produk luar untuk kegunaan kerajaan sekiranya ada produk tempatan. Walaupun buat sementara waktu kualiti pruduk tersebut lebih rendah. Pemimpin dan masyarakat jangan mudah menyalahkan pegawai jika ini berlaku. Sebaliknya beri masa dan peluang yang memberkalkannya membaiki kualiti.
    2. Kerugian kerana mencuba teknologi baru ciptaan rakyat tempatan tidak boleh dianggap sebagai satu kesalahan berbanding dengan kerugian pelaburan wang negara/tempatan diluar negara yang lebih menghampakan dan menyakitkan hati rakyat.
    3. Jadikan “CREATIF”, “INOVATIF” dan “TEKNOLOGI” hobi dikalangan generasi muda- di sekolah, kolej dan universiti. Wujudkan YAYASAN /INSTITUT KREATIF DAN INOVATIF NEGARA yang perlu menerima apa sahaja ciptaan-ciptaan baru walaupun ianya tidak berguna pada masa itu.
    Setelah kita melaksanakannya maka sama-samalah kita berdoa akan kejayaannya.
    SEMOGA MALAYSIA MENJADI NEGARA BERTEKNOLOGI SENDIRI MENJELANG 2020.
    MAZAI

  37. Dear Tun,
    Invention, Innovative, initiative, this is the time that we need to invent something that the world needs. Firstly we must target what kind of invention that we must create. Do you know that the automatic tasbih that my grandfather used when he was in mecca during the Haj was made in Japan. Those Japanese had earned for themselves huge ammount of money for that single invention that was sold to the whole muslim world. Whatever we are going to do next we must go two step in front of them.

  38. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Setiap tahun, terdapat ribuan rekacipta yang dihasilkan oleh para pelajar baik disekolah rendah, menengah dan IPT dinegara ini melalui Pertandingan Rekacipta mahupun projek-projek yang diwajibkan di IPT. Namun kemanakah akhirnya hasil-hasil rekaan tersebut? Tidak lain tidak bukan menginap didalam stor. Pembekuan ini disebabkan tidak ada tindakan susulan untuk mengenengahkan produk yang dicipta.
    Produk-produk tersebut beku kerana ciptaan yang dihasilkan tidak memenuhi spesifikasi inovasi berdaya tinggi. Namun tidak semua kerana banyak juga sebenarnya yang berpotensi untuk dikomersialkan. Apa yang perlu dilakukan untuk menangani masalah ini ialah dengan melantik panel hakim rekacipta yang standard. Mereka ini ditugaskan untuk mengenalpasti produk inovasi yang berdaya tinggi. Seterusnya terdapat satu lagi badan yang mampu untuk mempertingkatkan inovasi tersebut sehingga ke peringkat pengeluaran. Selanjutnya terdapat badan yang menguruskan pemasaran. Jika kerajaan memfokuskan mekanisma ini, saya yakin Malaysia akan mempunyai jenama yang mampu dieksport.
    Permasalahan yang berlaku pada hari ini ialah terlalu banyak badan kerajaan dan semi-kerajaan yang ditubuhkan untuk menangani penghasilan inovasi dinegara ini. Kesannya terdapat pertindihan dan kecelaruan maklumat. Para perekacipta tidak tahu kemana yang harus dituju.
    Banyak juga geran yang dikeluarkan oleh kerajaan. Percayalah, permohonan untuk mendapatkan geran tersebut amat komplikated. Sukar untuk mendapatkan bantuan meja (helpdesk) untuk membuat pertanyaan. Maka sebab itulah, geran-geran itu didominasi oleh oleh organisasi yang besar yang mempunyai tenaga kerja yang berpelajaran tinggi.
    Syarikat Zull Design Autotronic (diasaskan oleh Zulkifli Haron) yang telah ditubuhkan pada tahun 1986 hingga hari ini telah menghasilkan sejumlah 1,000 inovasi. Kebanyakan masyarakat bertanya mengapa Zulkifli Haron masih berada di takuk lama? Ada yang mengatakan bahawa beliau tamak dan tidak mahu berkongsi dengan orang lain. Sebenarnya tidak. Zulkifli Haron telah mendambakan hidupnya sebagai seorang saintis/perekacipta seumur hidupnya sehingga kini. Beliau telah membantu pengusaha backyard untuk menghasilkan mesin mengikut kemampuan mereka. Beliau mengalu-alukan usahawan yang berminat untuk mengkomersialkan produknya.
    Ratusan ibu tunggal sedang menggunakan mesin ciptaan beliau, samada mesin untuk membuat dodol, kuih semperit, kuih sepit, kuih putu kacang, maruku, keropok lekor dsbnya. Kebanyakan mesin yang dicipta tidak ada dipasaran lalu beliau menghasilkannya. Sementara mesin yang mahal dipasaran kini menjadi murah hasil inovasi beliau semata-mata untuk membantu pengusaha-pengusaha produk yang bermodal kecil. Beliau juga telah berjaya menghasilkan sistem memelihara ikan air laut seperti kerapu dan siakap dengan hanya menggunakan air pili!!
    Pihak kerajaan melalui MOSTI juga telah membantu syarikat Zull Design untuk menjalankan penyelidikan dan kini telah siap menghasilkan sebuah robot untuk memetik sawit. Proses yang seterusnya ialah bagaimanakah untuk mengkomersialkan robot tersebut.
    Kepada mereka yang bermurah hati untuk memberi tunjuk ajar kepada kami berhubung proses pengkomersialan adalah amat dialu-alukan agar projek ini tidak berkubur setakat menghasilkan prototaip.
    Selain dari itu, Zulkifli Haron juga bercadang untuk menubuhkan akademi untuk melatih belia negara ini untuk menjadi perekacipta. Setelah beberapa kali berbincang dengan pelbagai badan serta bermesyuarat dan membentangkan kertas kerja, tidak ada satu badan pun yang akhirnya berjaya merealisasikan impian beliau. Saya amat berharap, akhirnya terdapat pihak-pihak yang benar-benar patriotik dan memandang serius perjuangan Zulkifli Haron.
    Jika pada satu hari nanti Zulkifli Haron telah tidak berkemampuan menghasilkan inovasi, maka para pelanggan yang terdiri dari pengusaha bermodal kecil terpaksa mengeluarkan sejumlah wang yang besar untuk mengimport mesin-mesin yang diperlukan. Bukan sahaja pengusaha kecil tetapi beberapa badan kerajaan juga terpaksa mengeluarkan perbelanjaan yang besar untuk memperolehi teknologi dan mesin-mesin dari luar negara. Bukankah ini satu kerugian kepada negara??.
    Saya percaya terdapat ramai lagi perekacipta seperti Zulkifli Haron dinegara ini dan saya pasti mereka juga akan melalui kronologi yang sama dilalui seperti beliau.
    Ikhlas,
    http://reformasimindaguru.blogspot.com

  39. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    Sememangnya bidang RnD ini agak mencabar dan tidak mendapat sambutan di Malaysia. Tidak banyak jabatan kerajaan sendiri pun yang menjalankan RnD.
    Agak memnyedihkan lagi apabila terdapatnya jabatan kerajaan yang dahulunya menjadi Pusat RnD kini telah bertukar menjadi hanya sebagai agensi pembekal data.
    Terimakasih kepada ketua jabatan yang berjaya menaikan pangkatnya ke JUSA B tapi menurunkan taraf jabatannya itu. Langkah pertama ketua jabatan ini apabila memegang tampuk pemerintahan ialah menghentikan semua projek RnD yang sedang dijalankan. Nasib baiklah hanya satu syarikat yang berkaitan dengan projek tersebut yang menyaman beliau dan kerajaan Malaysia. Itu pun tidak banyak, hanya sekadar 112juta RM sahaja.
    Kejayaan Ketua Jabatan itu yang sebenarnya ialah secara perlahan-lahan beliau berjaya mengeluarkan semua pekerja yang cekap dan berpengetahuan (PhD) daripada jabatan tersebut. Kesemua pekerja yang keluar daripada jabatan itu kini telah cemerlang di syarikat swasta atau universiti.
    Tidak hairan jika di agensi tersebut, HRMIS yang kini sudah digunakan di semua jabatan kerajaan masih tidak berfungsi. Agak memalukan kerana agensi tersebut adalah di bawah MOSTI sendiri.
    Ini adalah kerana ketuanya masih lagi di bawah tempurung, bodoh dan sombong. Beliau malah mengaku dapat mentafsir kitab agama dengan sendiri dan sering mengeluarkan hadis-hadis dalam ucapannya walaupun hadis itu hanya dinyatakan separuh sahaja.
    Dengan adanya orang-orang seperti ini sebagai ketua jabatan kerajaan, sememangnyalah RnD di Malaysia tidak akan maju…
    Sekian…

  40. ~salam Tun,
    Melalui MOHE (FRGS), MOA (AgriFund), MOSTI (TechnoFund, ScienceFund) dll kerajaan dilihat telah memberikan geran R&D yang besar kpd IPTA/IPTS. Belum diambilkira Universiti berstatus RU dan APEX. Sebaiknya, geran R&D ini dilaksanakan secara kolaborasi antara Industri dengan Universiti (syarat wajib) supaya dapat: (1) Membantu industri khususnya PKS mengurangkan kos, peratusan kegagalan semasa eksperimen/prototaip dan meningkatkan “goodwill” produk yang dihasilkan, maklumlah produk dibangunkan secara bersama dengan Profesor/Dr yang ilmuwan. (2) Memastikan penyelidikan Universiti “tidak syok sendiri” dengan memberi impak yang tinggi dan cepat. Malahan, pelaksanaannya harus ditambahbaik dengan melibatkan kerjasama Industri, Persatuan Industri dan Universiti dalam memastikan R&D digerakkan secara berkumpulan dan saling lengkap melengkapi dalam rangkaian dan rantaian perniagaan.
    Untuk menjadi sebuah negara berasaskan inovasi, kreativiti dan nilai tambah, negara harus meletakkan R&D sebagai tunjang dan kepentingan rakyat khususnya graduan (Ijazah, Sarjana, Doktor Falsafah) didahulukan. Jika tidak dirancang, pasca R&D bakal membawa kepada kebanjiran tenaga buruh asing (kali ini yang profesional dengan kadar levi yang murah) ke dalam negara dan jika tidak dibendung akan menghakis peluang pekerjaan graduan tempatan.

  41. Dear Tun,
    This has been a topic that I have personal interest in during my days in varsity in US, during my 10 years in Banking and another 5 years in ICT industry. I would like to share this with the readers mainly to open the minds of the fund manager for R & D funds. There is a way on how to start funding a new R & D or rather to start a business to sell a new product in the market. Ask simple questions and the major questions are ?
    1) What is the value of the product to the market ?
    2) How much is needed for R & D ?
    3) How much is needed for Product Development until its ready for Sale in the Market Place ?
    If, all are answered well, fund it. Whats the issue ? Set the Milestones well. Do not fund at a discount ? Fund fully …
    ex. A simple restaurant for example, Statistics shows that of all 100 restaurant opens, 10% makes it to its third year and almost all which survived the third year, will continue to operate in the long term. So, for funding, keep it simple, fund for all 3 years the overhead, do not cut back, fund for all 3 years.
    But, of course, the value and the idea have to be great enough to invite people to come in and really eat at the restaurant.
    So, the idea is, keep it simple, fund good idea that will create more good value to the market. The idea may not have to be ground breaking R & D, but innovative idea, with a lot of value, will travel far.
    As for the perception of malaysian on malaysian product, I have to admit the truth. I am a business development manager for an ICT company, its not easy to break the chicken and egg issue. The decision makers for malaysia corporate is too conservative and so difficult to break the egg. The “Chicken” has been ruling too long … Let the egg have its day …

  42. Dear Tun,
    Assalamualaikum and Salam Sejahtera.
    In our government, some councils always expect assistance from
    higher offices even for small issues which local authorities
    could handle themselves… Our government should not ready to
    assist any local authority which did not try to solve some of
    its problems… Our government should visit all councils in
    the province and expose a lot of unnecessary failures…
    I call this as a lazy council which only know to receive their
    salary without any shameful feeling… If for the simple thing
    or problem they are already lazy to understand it, how come
    they would put an effort to understand electronic information
    systems, additives for fuel products, conversion of waste to
    oil and aall other complex things..? They look like a bunch of
    idiots and clowns…
    They lack of initiative and Im wondering how programmes could
    succeed if such an attitude was prevalent in our trusted
    government officers… They dont want to read and improve their
    knowledge… Lazy… Even to understand the fuel research
    project, at least they must read (I didnt say fully deep
    understand) about on how the fuel energy generated to produce
    mechanical work in a controlled manner, processes used to
    convert fuel into energy include chemical reaction such as
    combustion, and even know that earliest fuel that was employed
    by humans is wood… Read… Just read to gain the knowledge
    and stop acting like an idiot lazy… People were expecting a
    lot from elected leaders and called for hard work and commitment…
    – Mohammad Shafiq, ex-University of Malaya, Electrical Engineering Department.
    —————————————
    p/s: Salam and Hye to zaki_77, bzz, emma49, pakbelalang,
    Cayden Tan, hakimjb, amin tan, SHAZ, hati.malaysia, Khairul-Dean,
    mrfriday, imahadi, khairulorama, Rimba Emas (who kept writing in
    Malay), parameswara 2, MZIskandar, stripe, samuraimelayu,
    donplaypuks, and e-kompute.

  43. Do we want inventors? Yes
    How?
    One of the ways is to clean up all those pirated products – eg clothings, leather goods, etc as well as automobile spare parts and accessories.
    All those copy2 and Made in China/ Thailand which are not authentic should go. JUST GO. Enforce the law.
    Too much piracy. We can’t sell patented products at all. It is not constrained to VCDs. There are too much copies in the market.
    If we’re serious about having a high net worth economy, high income economy – that is.
    Petaling Street visited by Minister(s) and becomes a tourist place for those goods being sold? Get real, the substance of things and seriousness in curbing piracies are not there at all. Forget about inventors if we continue behaving like this.
    This topic is all about talk only but do nothing. Or don’t know how to do anything. We all missed your time, Tun, whereby whatever you say will be followed by real, pragmatic actions. No rethorics..

  44. Salam Tun,
    1. Jika seseorang hendak berjaya, mesti ada Keazaman, kepercayaan, dan tekad berusaha sampai mendapat kecapi kejayaan.
    2. Di Malaysia, Idea memang banyak, tetapi bila hendak menjayakan produk/khidmat, macam macam alasan. Bagaikan ingin kejayaan ‘Instant’. Memang akan ada masalah. Masalah sentiasa ada. Tetapi jika Usahawan itu percaya akan produk/khidmat ditawarkan, segala apa boleh diatasi…
    3. Ni tidak. Asyik mengeluh. Duit tak ada, sokongan tak ada, Tak ada yang percaya akan keberkesanan idea. Dah tak berjaya, datang jumpa Ayahanda Tun. Macamlah Tun ‘Magician’. Dah Serik denger perkara sama. Saya Hairan TUN Masih sabar dengan mereka..
    4. TUN, saya cadang TUN berhenti apa orang Inggeris kata “Mollycoddle” mereka ini. Jika malaysia ingin ke tahap seterusnya, Individu perlu USAHA cari jalan KEJAYAAN… baru boleh dikatakan USAHAWAN. Saya tahu dia orang datang cari TUN nak ‘easy way out’. TUN akan pakai contact TUN dan mereka boleh berjaya Instant.. Tak lama kemudian, Beli kereta mercedes, Rumah di Damansara heights dan macam macam. Belum consisten kejayaan. Bila produk tak laris, Lingkup. Jangan terpedaya TUN.
    5. Saya suka apa yang dikirim ‘hakimjb’ Izin saya ulangi…
    “… If our unfortunate local inventors come to see you again Tun, can you please ask them to try harder and don’t just give up?………. So, again if it’s possible, please do tell whiny local inventors who come to see you anytime soon: try harder and don’t give up!….” Memang setuju 100%
    Semoga Tun Sihat selalu

  45. Salams Tun,
    Your kind comments on the advancement of investors and Innovators are very true indeed. Finding commercial value for these inventions are the most hardest factor. Skills are pitted in two categories, namely academic (the scholars, phd’s, etc) and the business (entrepreneurs, financiers, marketeers).
    I have a general concept that a successful company need two individuals – a visionary and an “implementor”. The visionary is the academic and the implementor the business, but most of the time one person always wants to do both and this is always the failure part of young concepts trying to turn to companies.
    There are many concept and early stage funds to assist the 1st level of commercialization (but one must be very business oriented and financial savvy to sell to such investors) and than there’s the beautiful grants (from concept, technology, people, commercialization) the government has provided which an entrepreneur can really take advantage.
    I noticed everyone like to compare us with Singapore. Personally, I have been on the insight of Singapore and seen their innovation and technology…. well, frankly its smaller in volume than Malaysia. What make them razzle-dazzle is the expat community that they house…. Singapore sells the expat technology and innovation… but at the end… these expat are leveraging very nicely on the infrastructure to develop cheaply their concepts that they eventually take back to their home when its ready to commercialize. Sorry, but that’s about it. I know many will to differ my observation. 😉
    Based from Tun’s article, one can acknowledge that you are a “dealflow magnet” when it comes to young ideas. Someone should conceptualize a fund around this and effectively begin to materialize some great ideas. We do not need a government body to assist but rather a group of high net-worth individuals (or some call it Angels). Most of the time these Angels are the business oriented people whom are most crucial to value add the concept to a commercialized idea.
    Investors in Malaysia (like many countries) are divided by Government Agencies to Semi government Agencies, Financial Institutions (whom have a VC/PE arm), Private Firms and Angels. The most important thing that entrepreneurs need to know is whom one must look at. Don’t just simply try a “shot-gun” approach and try every “Tom, dick and Harry” simply because every single investor have different appetites. I guess what i’m trying to say is knowledge… entrepreneurs must have knowledge of whom they are approaching. And most of the time, one generic business plan will never apply the masses.
    Most of the time, entrepreneurs delve so much into the technology of their idea and very little emphasis on the business, market, skills (people) and alliances. So many times when an entrepreneur explains his concept…it will be so technical that a finance guy (most investors are BTW) almost never understand.
    Also, I acknowledge that Investors too are many times skewed towards returns and will only be interested that an investment provides at least 30% and above IRR at the lowest risk. Ironically, companies in these early stages are the type of companies that can provide the highest returns but also the entry risks are high. Another issue is most of the funds that investors have, have a lifespan of 5 years, so they need companies to provide them with an exit within 3 years from investment….. an early concept stage company in Malaysia needs at least 5 years to successfully commercialize…. so there is the GAP with funding.
    The ecosystem for entrepreneurship in Malaysia (support from Government initiatives like ICT, Biotech, GreenTech) is great compared to many countries (even more advanced than many scandinavian countries) but the big lag for inventions and innovations to materialize into commercialize entities is a business community (both individuals and companies) that will openly test these products and provide free “constructive” comments that will help this pool of individuals constantly improve their idea into a business. I think the Silicon Valley had lots of success because the community constantly debates and comment on each others offerings…. indirectly improving each others products competitively.
    Entrepreneurs must always think global from day 1, most of the innovations always are skewed towards government contracts, local demand, low volume, etc. That’s why most of the inventions that fail to garner local interest fails almost instantly when they try overseas, simply because the model was never made for an international audience. We can no longer say we lack exposure of the outside world and how they perform business….. we have the World Wide Web to listen and learn. With as little as RM5,000, one can buy the latest reports of a specific industry to build a simple business plan on.
    Being an ENTREPRENEUR is having pure passion and believe in your invention and having the stamina to pursue it. Some take 6 months to succeed and some take as long as 10 years…are we up to it?

  46. Assalamualaikum Tun.
    Bertepatan dengan tajuk di atas,di sini saya ingin menambah sikit berkenaan satu peristiwa sihir seperti yang telah terjadi pada diri Rasulullah s.a.w (arkib utusan 4/6/2010- Surah al-Falaq dan a-Nas elak sihir)
    Ini tak berkenaan dengan ekonomi tetapi bersangkut paut dengan pegangan yang betul oleh ahli agama negara kita Malaysia.
    Terlanjur saya dah tulis yang saya pernah diganggu oleh makhlus halus masa belajar dulu dan saya tak pernah berubat secara rasmi,cuma hilang begitu saja.
    Apa yg boleh dijelaskan dengan tepat tentang peristiwa itu adalah :
    Kelupaan tersebut hanya pada soal urusan kehidupan dan perbuatan di dunia sahaja.Tetapi Baginda tidak lupa dengan syariat yang sedang dibawa sebagai utusan Allah s.w.t
    Terima kasih Tun.

  47. Salam Tun Dr Mahathir dan semua pembaca. SAlam perpaduan dan salam 1 Malaysia.
    Pasal RnD ni,bagi mereka yg pernah terlibat,dah masak sgt dgn budaya RnD d Malaysia ni. Malaysia ni mmg takde budaya RnD langsung. Pihak kerajaan hanya tau nk tgk result nyata, mereka langsung xde wawasan pandang jauh. Dh nama pn research, mana mungkin trus nk keluarkan produk yg nyata dlm sekelip mata!
    Akibatnya fund di tarik balik. Dan yg menderita, akhirnya student2 kita yg bijaksana ni. Akibatnya, student2 ni di cantas minat mereka dlm RnD. Bila dh takde wang nk sara hidup, maka bertebaran la bakat2 saintis muda kita ni mencari rezeki d bidang yg bukan lapangan mereka. Ada yg keje Giant,Jusco, Tesco, Carrefor dan mcm2 lagi. Keje kt tmpt2 ni at least confirm dpt gaji. Kalau keje ngn pensyarah penyelidik kat lab, silap2 bleh kena kapur! Hahaha..
    Mohon maaf kalau ada yg tersinggung. Tp ini lah hakikat kehidupan RnD di Malaysia.

  48. Assalamualaikum.
    Saya mohon maaf kerana menyimpang sedikit daripada tajuk asal yang Tun utarakan.
    Saya ingin bercerita tentang inivasi pendidikan, walaupun saya bukanlah ahli dibidangnya namum saya rasa ini perkara ini harus diberi perhatian sewajarnya.
    Kerajaan telah mengumumkan cadangan agar peperiksaan peringkat rendah dan menengah rendah dihapuskan atau dikurangkan. Ini pada pendapat saya akan menyebabkan perubahan kurikulum. Secara dasarnya saya amat bersetuju dengan cadangan ini, tetapi penyusunan semula kurikulum hendaklah dilakukan dengan rapi dan sesuai dengan matlamat pendidikan negara.
    Masalah akhlak dan sosial remaja sekarang ini sedikit sebanyak adalah berpunca daripada sistem pendidikan yang ada sekarang.
    Saya mencadangkan agar peringkat rendah penumpuan pelajaran adalah kepada pembentukan akhlak dan moral pelajar lebih ditekankan daripada pembelajaran akedamik. Meraka cuma perlu tahu membaca, menulis dan mengira pada peringkat ini. Penumpuan tentang ilmu AGAMA (bagi pelajar muslim) dan akhlak serta kenegaraan hendaklah diutamakan. INSYAALLAH kita mampu melahirkan insan yang berkualiti di masa hadapan.
    Di peringkat menengah rendah, barulah mereka didedahkan dengan ilmu akademik yang khusus. Penilaian pada peringkat ini hanyalah untuk melihat kecenderungan mereka kepada sesuatu cabang ilmu yang lebih khusus. Peringkat ini hendaklah hanya satu aliran atau satu sistem pembelajaran sahaja wujud. Sekolah vernakular hanyalah pada peringkat rendah sahaja. Di sini kita mungkin dapat memupuk semangat kekitaan antara bangsa dan agama. Mereka belajar hidup dan berinteraksi dalam kepelbagaian kaum dan agama.
    Itu cuma satu pandangan saya seorang budak kampung yang dhaif.

  49. Assalamualaikum Tun Yang Amat Dihormati,
    Taman Teknologi Malaysia,di Bukit jalil perlukan lebih banyak sokongan berterusan(kewangan dan peluang)dari pihak kerajaan,Ini adalah salah satu tempat terbaik untuk tujuan R&D produk tempatan.
    Semoga Tun dikurniakan kesihatan yang baik dan dilindungi Yang Maha Esa.Terima kasih.

  50. Dear Tun,
    I fully agree with your opinion. These are the facts, challenges and dilemmas faced by Malaysian. Your holistic comments involve the researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, business people, government officers, etc covering from ideas(pre-commercialize) till commercialization phase of product/service.
    Of all the different group of people involve in realizing the success of any product/service, the one who really strive for excellence or make it happen is the TECHNOPRENEURS. They are the driving force, will others will assist and can be opportunist.
    The technopreneurs may come from a different background. They have millions of grandmother stories to tell about their success or failure.
    My suggestion is instead of encouraging the rakyat to continuously start R&D at the initial phase, they also must be aware of the product commercial viability. If not, they will trapped in “entrepreneurial seizure”.
    In other words market analysis/research must be done. It is worthwhile to spend 50K to ensure the commercial viability first. Because the next step of investment will involves millions of Ringgit. Government must be willing to invest in this to assist Malaysian R&D as it will significantly calculate and minimize the risk faced. Better spend for something rather than nothing.
    Best Regards,
    Azwan, MD

  51. Tun,
    Thanks for bringing this up. Your comments are timely. I too have been trying hard to help our Malaysian inventors and innovators but of course, I don’t have the wide network and connections like you. Nevertheless, I do what I can to help our inventors and innovators. I help them by repackaging their inventions and linking them to business people whom I know who are very much open to technology and inventions; and who are passionate to help. There are still good people out there.
    I hope one day, I will be able to bring some of these people to you.
    Regards,
    andrew

  52. Dear Tun,
    It is a lot of relief to see this topic in you blog. All good things in R&D only happened during your premiership, and ended when you relinquished you post. It is just very sad time for R&D.
    There are many branches of R&D, as many as branches of knowledge. Despite all require a lot of knowledge, effort and time to achieve its breakthrough level in innovation, not all are on equal footing in term of development cost.
    I believe that current government drive is more on software development and animation which is more of creative content. It fits in the RM150K model that MDeC award to developer as the cost are minimal with high potential for return. Just look at what Lat and Astro have managed to achieved. The Upin & Ipin twins is another good example.
    Should the reward is so good in the creative content area, should all Engineers convert to animation and software development? Most Electrical Engineer are good in computer programming, should they just drop all their volts and start to do web programming?
    I think Dibo the Gift Dragon is a Korean product. Very entertaining and at par with whatever the western can offer. A lot of kids watch the show on LG or Samsung TV. I do not think that watching a Korean cartoon on a Korean TV set make the show more entertaining, but if you were a Korean, it definitely make you damn proud!
    Software and creative content are very important as it fills up empty souls of the hardware. But there is no place for the soul to land on if there were no hardware in the first place.
    Tun, you were the biggest supporter in integrated circuit design. You even named an IC after your name. I can build IC so you can name them after all your offsprings, and their offsprings and their theirs offsprings.
    Where does that knowledge put me? At par with the best steam locomotive engineer. Time to brush up my web design skill perhaps after I left it for a long 14 years.

  53. Dear Tun & readers,
    Yes, I agree with Amin Tan that this topic is quite academic. Most of the inventions and innovations are done by the industrial practitioner themselves – because they knew better in their own area of R&D (to minimize risks)
    Yes, we also have a lot of agencies in-charge too (Be it from government or NGO). What we need is the government to reindentify their action plans to push the NGOs to be the driver or leaders.
    I may suggest that we consolidate the agencies for the first step, combine the resources/expertise that can evaluate all the ideas while promoting to everyone to present theirs.
    I think everyone has ideas. It’s just that they’re not well structured, or poorly evaluated, or commercially not viable.
    p/s I still wonders what happend to Zul (The 1980s 1990s innovator). He’s the one example who invest his own resources to achieve what he believes in.

  54. Dear Tun
    The most powerful man in Malaysia that can really helps inventors is the Prime Minister itself.
    If he believes that supporting inventors the key to sustained or to elevate Malaysia economy, then the scenario will changes
    Just like the US, if they want more serious technologies to help them wins more wars and get as much oil they can, they will make it happened like nobody cares. Instead they can put the money to build community relations to improve tensions between religions and races, but they dont. Because it is not their President and his lobbyist interest and believes.
    Back to my point, only our dear PM can do this. He can ordered to make it happened, but without precise self monitor from him, Everything will come back to 0. Rhetoric from the 1st day
    FDI is good, but inventive countries prosper more. Not only economy but also the border safety of Malaysian. Nobody dares to attack a country that is so technological advance.

  55. Dear Tun,
    I read your article about Invention and innovation which leads me to recall those old day during 22nd April 1991 ……..
    It was a big surprise when I received a letter of “Congratulation” from Tun about my Invention. I pushed myself very hard to achieve the objective since then. Although there wasn’t any Government and financial support but still, the new innovative product was developed during 1996 and justified by most of the local and oversea authorities.
    This innovative product was designed and meant for those critical industries like in telecommunication & transmission towers, banking, petroleum,data centre, Biotechnology, traffic light, airport SER, … etc. In our R&D study, we found this unique product was extremely useful especially in the advance countries like USA, Australia, Europe, Canada … etc. which could easily help to reduce their manpower, daily OPEX and territory restriction in the above industries and thus, we started to build a dream to export this technology to the world eventually if we’re recognize in Malaysia.
    Although we managed to prove the benefits of this unique product to the above industries for more than 15 years but still, mindset and personal altitude came into the transaction, which jeopardized the master plan allowing us to export this technology to the world. For your info, after Tun shifted to your new PM Residence and office at Putrajaya,we managed to deploy this product at your data room and serving you well with the recognition from Telekom Malaysia. Although we found there is no equivalent product in the global market as to-date, but still, majority of the above users still doubtful about Malaysian technology.
    Seriously, if the Government can help any of the potential R&D products developed by Malaysian, I’m sure we’ll just like Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea … etc. which spread-ahead part of our economic through technology sectors in the world map.
    I wish Tun always in good health…

  56. Assalamualaikum Tun.
    Untuk melakukan R&D memang berisiko tinggi.
    Bila kata berisiko tinggi jadi kita kenalah tahu apa itu ‘rasa’ risiko tinggi.Macam perkataan gembira atau sedih.Bagaimana rasa sebenarnya gembira atau sedih.
    Risiko yang tinggi perlu diurus dengan berhemah.Kadangkala akan berlaku perkara yang tak terkawal.Saya tak fikir setiap helai wang yang diperuntukkan oleh kerajaan mahupun pengusaha akan
    mencukupi bagi setiap R&D yang dijalankan.
    Pengurusan risiko tinggi melibatkan segala aspek dalaman dan juga luaran.Bergantung pada tahap produk.Kalau produk teknologi,kita mungkin rugi teruk sampai terduduk jika R&D yang kita jalankan telah diatasi atau diciplak oleh pesaing terdekat.
    Bagaimana untuk mengatasinya?
    Kita kena pasang spy.Spy pulak kena jujur,amanah.Wang diperlukan bagi bayar gaji spy.Tapi tidak untuk kejujuran dan amanah.Itu juga satu risiko.
    Sekali lagi pengurusan berisiko tinggi perlu dilakukan dengan berhemah.Saya kira kerajaan masih lagi tidak dapat menguruskan risiko R&D dengan berhemah.
    Tiada langsung kepakaran tahap tinggi,kecekapan serta keberanian dalam kerajaan untuk pengurusan sebegini.
    Kerajaan gagal dalam pengurusan R&D kerana tidak memahami rasa perkataan berisiko tinggi.
    Terima kasih Tun.

  57. Good morning Ayahanda Tun,
    Spending money in R & D in the name of ‘Malaysia Boleh’ failed miserably due to flip & flop of the top government officers who are ‘pendek akal’, and Malaysia Government has to accept this failure with open heart as Malaysia…as comment By stripe on July 5, 2010 2:08 AM Mereka mempunyai “MISSION” tetapi tiada “VISION” kerana tidak dapat memahami apa maksud dan tujuan R & D kami kerana mereka masih lagi di dalam situasi “complacent” tanpa ingin keluar & malas memahami teknologi R & D baru. Sungguh mengecewakan jika dibanding dengan jawatan yang mereka sandang untuk jabatan mereka.
    If the Government and its officers do not understand tis mission and vision, no matter how much the Government is willing to spend, the end result is a failure and a waste of public funds!!
    The Comment By parameswara 2 on July 5, 2010 12:46 AM..Any foolish nation can be proud,but it takes a real great nation to be HUMBLE.So Tun let us start being a great nation by being humble and benefit significantly from Singapore.Maybe it’s about time we can start being real good friends too.After all we are both not young anymore.If they want to be proud and kiasu to us let them but we will choose to remain humble yet dignified is EMOTIONAL SENTIMENT…
    Malaysians do not need to beat Singaporeans or start a Look South Policy to prove that Malaysians are Melayu Kiasu is ok in ASEAN and Globe by increasing Government and R & D spending if Malaysia government knows where they stand today..assuming tat the money belongs to the public, not their hard earned tear and sweat money ma….
    R & D is a permanent commitment and can be stopped if the competiveness of Malaysia in ASEAN and world scenario has changed. For those people who are serious with long term commitment in R & D, they know how to raise the fund in time of scarcity..if they don’t, then it’s their responsibility to find ways to keep up with the funding..rather than just expecting the Government to dump money in their research..like what we say..”No Pain No Gain”..
    Good day Ayahanda Tun.
    P.S. It’s time for TS Myuhiddin and Malay Ministers to allow MCA party under Tuan Dr Chua to show their know how, sincerity and passion in fighting for hak asasi rakyat cina in 1Malaysia..and PM Najib and TS Muyhiddin should let DS Wee Ka Siong, the MCA Youth and his runners to run the show to compete with PKR’s Tian Chua and DAP’s Guan Eng since Dr Chua is not in the Cabinet..No Pain No Gain….whereby investors suffered pain for 40 years now, BN ministers enjoyed the gain without pain…..to be fair and human……

  58. SALAM KASIH DAN SAYANG
    AYAHANDA RAKYAT TUN
    IZINKAN,
    WHAT A COINCIDENCE AYAHANDA TUN.
    LAST NIGHT ONE OF OUR ADIK ANGKAT CAME TO SEEK HELP TO MARKET A MALAYSIAN BRED INVENTION…SOMETHING TO DO WITH ‘FUEL’.
    APPARENTLY, IT IS A MUCH CHEAPER FUEL THAN THE SUBSIDISED DIESEL AND IS ECO-FRIENDLY. THE INVENTOR HAD PROVEN THE PRODUCT WORKS AND IS CURRENTLY PRODUCING THE FUEL OVERSEAS ESPECIALLY IN THE ORIENT.
    THE INVENTOR WUD LOVE TO SUPPLY THE CHEAP FUEL FOR USE IN OUR FACTORIES BUT IS FACING DIFFICULTIES DUE TO SOME ‘SCEPTIC’ FIGURES IN THE BUREAUCRACY..WONDERED WHY?
    PERHAPS, WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, WE WILL APPROACH OUR BELOVED AYAHANDA TUN FOR ADVICES TO MAKE IT FEASIBLE FOR THE INVENTOR TO MARKET THE PRODUCT IN HIS BELOVED COUNTRY.
    ALFATIHAH, AMIN.
    Ps. He hinted that Ayahanda Tun may have heard about the product.

  59. Askm Yab Tun,
    Terima kasih pada pandangan Yab Tun.
    Kami pernah berbincang R & D kami dengan Pegawai badan kerajaan berkaitan.
    Mereka mempunyai “MISSION” tetapi tiada “VISION” kerana tidak dapat memahami apa maksud dan tujuan R & D kami kerana mereka masih lagi di dalam situasi “complacent” tanpa ingin keluar & malas memahami teknologi R & D baru.
    Sungguh mengecewakan jika dibanding dengan jawatan yang mereka sandang untuk jabatan mereka.

  60. Assalamualaikum Tun,
    I have some view on how the government should encourage design innovation with cheaper implementation by using open-source application/tools where applicable. Current ‘GRANT’ which promotes using ‘CLOSED-SOURCE’ products – which handled by/dominated by the suppliers/vendors won’t help much in assisting/educating current and future generation to be more creative and innovative on their own.
    Visit me.. http://digitalspine.blogspot.com/2010/07/government-and-opensource-software.html
    Of course, learning new things are very difficult for some people. Learning to read ~ very difficult for a child ~ once the child can read, new doors will open for him.
    R&D is cheaper when everybody share their knowledge. Some underground documentaries restricted to be shared publicly. Mail me 🙂

  61. Dearest Tun Dr Mahathir
    “14. THE GOVERNMENT,THE CIVIL SERVANTS,THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR MINDSETS IF MALAYSIA IS SERIOUS ABOUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ”
    Are you suggesting at this moment ‘they’ are still not yet serious about R&D?Aren’t we only about 10 years to go before Vision 2020? And Malaysia is still not serious about R&D..now ,that’s really interesting .Anyway its better late than never.
    Tun if the once not so inventive countries who were just like us can suddenly transform themselves to become highly inventive and innovative nations,surely these nations must be doing something right -So,sir why can’t we just copy their methods, lock,stock and barrel ?
    And in this regards Malaysia is lucky to have Singapore Darul Kiasu at it’s doorsteps.This great country is already recognized as amongst the world’s best in many areas not least it’s R&D.If only we Malaysians could be humble enough to learn from her we could have saved time and money from the learning curve itself.
    Najib should introduce a new Look South Policy.Seriously,by just focusing our minds to beating Singapore in many areas of positive competition,we will find ourselves to be a potential world leader already.I hope Najib can kowtim BG Lee to get Singapore teach us all the relevant things soonest possible.
    Any foolish nation can be proud,but it takes a real great nation to be HUMBLE.So Tun let us start being a great nation by being humble and benefit significantly from Singapore.Maybe it’s about time we can start being real good friends too.After all we are both not young anymore.If they want to be proud and kiasu to us let them but we will choose to remain humble yet dignified.
    Thanks Tun.

  62. SALAM BUAT TUN BERDUA MOGA DIRAHMATI ALLAH S.W.T.
    1) MASAALAH PENGUSAHA UNTUK MELABOR DALAM PENYELIDIKAN REKACIPTA DAN PEMBAHARUAN BUKANLAH SATU MASAALAH YANG BESAR. YANG MENJADI MASAALAH BILA SESUATU PRODUK YANG DICIPTA ATAU DI BUAT PEMBAHARUAN ITU HENDAK DIKELUARKAN DALAM KUANTITI YANG BANYAK.
    2) BILA TERPAKSA MENGELUARKAN DALAM KUANTITI YANG BANYAK BERMAKNA TERPAKSALAH MENGELUARKAN MODAL YANG BANYAK DALAM MENDAPATKAN BAHAN ASAS UNTUK MEMBINA SESUATU KOMPONEN.
    3) TERUTAMANYA KEPADA SESUATU REKACIPTA YANG BARU DAN PIHAK PEMBIAYA SELALUNYA AKAN SANGGUP MELABOR JIKA TELAH DAPAT DIBERI JAMINAN TERHADAP PERMINTAAN ATAS BARANGAN CIPTAAN ITU MELALUI DOKUMEN SEPERTI KONTRAK BERTULIS YANG BOLEH DIAMBIL DAKWAAN ATAS JAMINAN UNDANG-UNDANG.
    4) BAGI RIMBA EMAS PENYELIDIKAN ADALAH TERAMAT PERLU OLEH SESEORANG PENGUSAHA ITU KERANA IA ADALAH IBARAT ‘NYAWA’ YANG AKAN DAPAT MENENTUKAN JANGKA MASA SESUATU PRODUK SAMAADA BOLEH BERTAHAN UNTUK JANGKA MASA YANG LAMA ATAU TIDAK.
    5) MALAH PENYELIDIKAN MEREKA CIPTA ATAU PEMBAHARUAN ATAS KOMPONEN DARI BAHAN ASAS YANG DAPAT MENGURANGKAN KOS PENGELUARAN ADALAH SATU CARA DALAM MENGATASI KEMELUT KEGAWATAN EKONOMI YANG MENGAKIBATKAN KEKURANGAN PERMINTAAN TERHADAP BARANGAN ‘EXPORT’.
    6) SETIAP PENYELIDIKAN ITU AKAN DIREKOD DAN DISIMPAN YANG MANALAH TAHU BOLEH DIGUNAKAN ATAU DALAM SITUASI TERDESAK SEPERTI BILA BERLAKUNYA SESUATU MUSIBAH CONTOHNYA DALAM MASA KEGAWATAN EKONOMI. FORMULA ITU BOLEH DIGUNA PAKAI SEBAGAI JALAN PENYELESAIAN.
    7) SEBAB BILA MENUNGGU BERLAKUNYA SESUATU MALAPETAKA BARULAH KITA HENDAK MENCARI FORMULA MUNGKIN MENBERI KESAN YANG BESAR JIKA MASA YANG TERLALU LAMA DIAMBIL UNTUK MENYELESAIKANNYA.
    8) SALAH SATU SIFAT MULIA IALAH BERSEDEKAH YANG SUDAH TENTU MEMERLUKAN PENGORBANAN YANG WALAU PUN RUGI HARTA BENDA TETAPI GANJARANNYA AMATLAH BESAR DISISI ALLAH S.W.T.
    9) KITA SENDIRI DAPAT MENILAI BAHAWA KERUGIAN BUKAN BERMAKNA KELEMAHAN SEORANG PENTADBIR ITU JIKA KEBAIKANNYA ITU MEMBERI GANJARAN ATAU RAHMAT KEPADA RAKYAT.
    10) SEBALIKNYA KEUNTUNGAN BAK TANGKAI JERING YANG TIDAK SANGGUP BERKORBAN UNTUK RAKYAT KERANA TAKUT MISKIN YANG BERLAWANAN DENGAN FITRAH ALLAH S.W.T YANG MAHA PEMURAH LAGI MENGASIHANI.
    11) RUGI SEBAB MENYELEWENG KITA KEJI SEBALIKNYA UNTUK MELEBIHKAN RAKYAT KITA PUJI KERANA SIFAT MULIA RASULLULLAH S.A.W MENJADI IKUTAN PEGAWAI-PEGAWAI TADBIR KITA YANG SUDAH TENTU MENDAPAT GANJARAN BERBENTUK PAHALA DARI ALLAH S.W.T.
    WALLAHU’ALAM

  63. Salam buat ayahanda Tun,
    I support your motion that, only few succeeded developing ‘functional products’ .
    However, I blamed for not creating a cultural attitude towards new inventions.
    We like to use the normal things that we have. Often, we are reluctant to new approaches or methods. Despite, the investments that the government are churning into the rakyat, we are dependent and comfortable with the norms.
    Research and revenues are not only dependable on products.
    Research are values in intellectual people.

  64. is there any government officer would like to invest on truly Malaysian’s innovations? Pemandu?

  65. SALAM TUN DAN MALAYSIA,
    SAYA TERKENANG ZAMAN KEGEMILANGAN ERA TUN,PROTON,PLUS,JAMBATAN P PINANG,TWIN TOWER, KLIA, F1, EVEREST, KAPAL LAYAR SOLO KELILING DUNIA,…MCM2 LAGI..
    DLM BIDANG AEROANGKASA, MEASAT, LIMA, PESAWAT EAGLE 150 DAN MD3 AEROTIGA BUATAN MALAYSIA, THE GREAT MALAYSIAN AIR RALLY, LANGKAWI PARIS AIR RALLY…..
    IMBAS KEMBALI KATA2 TUN, KALAU KITA BARU BERMULA DGN LANGKAH YG SAMA DGN ORG LAIN YG TELAH BERKURUN MENCIPTANYA KITA HANYA MENGIKUT DARI BELAKANG, JD KITA HARUS LEBIH PANTAS BARU BOLEH BERSAING…..KALAU KITA TAK MAU MEMULAKAN LANGKAH DAN TAKUT RUGI MAKA LANGSUNG TAK ADA LANGKAH…
    WAHAI PARA PEMIMPIN NEGARA, TERUSKAN PERJUANGAN TUN YG BELUM SELESAI, DAN PERJUANGN YG TERBANTUT SEKETIKA…….

  66. Salam Tun,
    Firstly i would like to thank you for creating the opportunity for Malaysian Bumiputeras like me. I’ve managed to pursue my studies to Europe thanks to your vision and i’ve came through from Malaysian Boarding School system. The path for my rezeki came through your visions for Malays. You are like a father for me and others that are grateful for your contribution to the country.
    I’ve created my own technology in security and communications. The product name is RADIUSS (radmik intelligent universal surveillance system), the only malaysian own developed CCTV Video Security system. We’ve managed to get a couple of good supporters from the government but still hard way to go. We ve proved our quality but still Malaysian don’t buy Malaysian.
    IT all started from a backyard R & D and the young malay engineers-programmers working hard day & night to produce RADIUSS.
    The young malays are the programmers behind this system but still tough to us to move forward.
    We only request for fair chances through all tenders. not much but still frustrated. we will still fight with the fire of Tun Mahathir.
    We will develop RADIUSS until it will be used at international stage.
    MAJULAH TEKNOLOGI UNTUK NEGARA
    Frida

  67. Excellent reminder for all, Tun.
    When is the Proton EMAS hitting Langkawi roads?

  68. ….”12. But it is very doubtful that the officers manning the Government agencies would want to buy anything untried produced by Malaysians. Even if the product proves to be workable and even cheaper than what the Government is presently using, there would be a great reluctance to terminate the present suppliers, even after the contract is finished.”….
    No doubt about it at all.
    Especially when some mat sallehs in group coming with their briefcase and suits selling their stuff to GLCs. They will received better treatment and better ears and are treated like God although there local products use similiar or better technology.
    It is a wonder to see that after all this while they were still given priority although some of them are just selling their ‘features and saliva’.
    The mentality of kow-towing to some fair skin and blue eyed people should be rid of us all.

  69. Dear Tun,
    I do not known if you remember one of your program called Cradle Investment Fund, I am one of the successful applicant of this fund to develop my idea Rm50k was given and the idea was developed, part of the deal is to place the idea in so-called idea bank where potential investor will look and if selected we will go to next stage with the investor, the catch is MavCap have the 1st right of refusal, meaning if the investor offer, then only Mavcap will counter-off or asked for Rm50K refund. Well no-one took my idea, and MavCap did not bother to look into this, and after 1-year, my idea was removed from the idea bank. And until today, I have a working prototype (developed from Rm50K) and could not get investor.
    Current gov. is busy preparing itself for GE13… personally I think we have lost many good inventors.. this is part of the brain.
    What you think we should do.

  70. ….”12. But it is very doubtful that the officers manning the Government agencies would want to buy anything untried produced by Malaysians. Even if the product proves to be workable and even cheaper than what the Government is presently using, there would be a great reluctance to terminate the present suppliers, even after the contract is finished.”….
    No doubt about it at all.
    Especially when some mat sallehs in group coming with their briefcase and suits selling their stuff to GLCs. They will received better treatment and better ears and are treated like God although there local products use similiar or better technology.
    It is a wonder to see that after all this while they were still given priority although some of them are just selling their ‘features and saliva’.
    The mentality of kow-towing to some fair skin and blue eyed people should be rid of us all.

  71. Dear Tun,
    This topic is mainly academic. It is not viable for every new idea to be put into practice in commercial scale. In fact MRSM has a subject in rekacipta. I thought Technology Park near Bukit Jalil with incubators and so on is supposed to cater for new inventions and innovations.
    Every Master degree and Doctorate thesis in all the universities in the world from UiTM to Imperial College London is new idea or discovery of sorts. We cannot put into practice every new idea or discovery. Some new inventions and innovation are purposely financed and undertaken by institutions like British Defence Ministry, Exxon Mobil and Bill Gates Foundation.
    Most of the inventions and innovations that are actually put into commercial uses are done by practitioners in the industry themselves. Airbags and other features in motor cars are invented by those in the industry. The same goes to printing industry or computer industry and so on.
    amin tan

  72. Thank you for bringing up this matter, Tun.
    If our unfortunate local inventors come to see you again Tun, can you please ask them to try harder and don’t just give up? Please remind them Tun, that Malaysia is not unique in our people’s response to local inventions – lukewarm, that is. In fact, we can find many inventions that have received similar response from the public – just google ‘failed inventions’.
    Yes, as Malaysians we must support our local products. But instead of chasing after an empty dream mired with ethnocentrism, just for the sake of boasting ‘Malaysia Boleh’; we must be realistic in achieving our goals back on planet Earth: in order to progress, we must COLLABORATE with others.
    No, I don’t believe that the government, civil servants, business community in Malaysia are very skeptical of our local products and inventions, that we must ‘change our mindset’. In fact, Malaysians do support Proton, Yeoh’s, Petronas (M-mobile, maybe not), MAS, Airasia. (These are our local companies, and their products and services are the result of their ‘innovation’. When we support them, we support their ‘inventions’)
    So, again if it’s possible, please do tell whiny local inventors who come to see you anytime soon: try harder and don’t give up!

  73. Dear Tun Mahathir,
    I faced this kinda issue a year ago. Even I’ve tried to express my idea via various channel but there’s none specific organization that fit my idea. One of them is MSC IHL Business plan competition. I understood that its focus is for multimedia but didn’t give up yet I fail. Hence, I pick up Bayer as another channel. Even though the judges from different field accept it but no action taken.
    My final choice would be go Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Hopefully someday my research would be success.
    Regards
    Tan

  74. The govt. should have a specfic Ministry to deal with New Product Research Development just like companies having their Product Researh Development Department to deal with new product ideas.
    If the govt. is really committed to R&D, it should allocate at least 5% of GDP for R&D. It is a long term investment and definitely not a waste of public funds if it is properly controlled and managed.

  75. Salam Tun,
    Saya rasa banyak issue2 yang perlu ditangani dalam bidang R&D nie…
    1. Masalah graduan bioteks yang ramai menganggur sekarang…pasaran kerja untuk graduan bioteks yang merupakan research based seolah tidak wujud langsung, mostly mereka sambung belajar ke peringkat master/phd kerana kekurangan peluang pekerjaan dalam industry. Pada saya, students bidang bioteks adalh orang bijak2 belaka, tapi bakat2 muda ini telah disia-siakan kerana tiada pasaran, akhirnya, mereka bekerja di luar bidang pengajian. Jika diusahakan secara serius, bidang bioteks mampu menjadi cabang ekonomi baru bagi negara.
    2. Juga terdapat issue2 yang membabitkan pelajar master secara fully research yang seolah diabaikan kebajikan mereka. Untuk menamatkan research secara full time secara purata mengambil masa 2-3 tahun, tetapi terdapat case perlukan sehingga 4-5 tahun. Tidak terpikirkah bagaimana student2 ini menyara hidup mereka? research2 yang dilakukan oleh pelajar2 ini banyak menyumbang kearah pencapaian universiti,researcher2 muda inilah yang perlu dipupuk minat mereka dalam bidang R&D untuk menjana idea berkualiti… oleh itu usaha perlu dilakukan untuk menjaga kebajikan mereka…
    3. Bagaimana pula status R&D dalam bidang pertanian? kita masih lihat seolah para petani dan nelayan masih bertani dengan menggunakan kaedah tradisional? Kualiti pertanian negara perlulah mencapai standard minimum untuk dipasarkan di peringkat luar negara. Contoh hasil pertanian berpotensi ialah buahan tempatan, bunga2 tempatan, tanaman herba untuk ubatan…
    Saya rasa bidang pertanian juga perlukan kaedah pemberian lesen kepada petani2, supaya petani2 kita mengamalkan kaedah pertanian yang standard yang dapat mengluarkan hasil yg maksimum hasil kajian universiti2 tempatan. Kaedah pertanian tradisonal yang merosakkan alam sekitar perlu diharamkan….
    4. Bidang R&D bukan sahaja terhad pada bidang sains & teknologi, tetapi juga merangkumi penciptaan konsep2 perniagaan baru, contohnya, pelancaran projek terbaru HIGH Speed BROADBAND by TM dijangkakan meledakkan lagi industri e-commerce dalam negara. Cara perniagaan secara on-line akan menjadi salah satu cabang utama income rakyat tempatan.
    Contoh lain ialah concept food franchise yang mempunyai potensi untuk seiring sejalan dengan brand international spt pizza hut/Starbuck. Industri kecantikan juga dijangka boleh bersaing dengan pasaran luar, contohnya, Sendayu tinggi Vs Avon, mana satu pilihan anda? produk tempatan tentunya lebih berkualiti…tetapi Avon mempunyai business concept yg menjana billion dollars world wide..!! tetapi sendayu tinggi bila lagi?
    Semua industri2 ini memerlukan sokongan kerajaan…
    5. Saya juga ingin mencadangkan kerajaan/ pihak universiti untuk mengiklan kan produk2 hasil R&D kepada umum/public, wujudkan portal(websites) untuk inovasi2 baru yang boleh dikongsi bersama dengan usahawan2/financier tempatan. Portal ini akan bertindak sebagai medium komunikasi antara inventor dan usahawan, its where the buyer meets the seller. Diharap dengan ini lebih banyak hasil kajian pihak university dapat dikomersilkan oleh usahawan usahawan tempatan. Amin…
    Sekian Sahaja pendapat saya untuk kali ini….
    Terima kasih….

  76. Tun,
    You’re one of the best salesman Malaysian ever had… Tq.. and have a nice weekend…
    Ps – I REALLY2 hope DS Najib can be at least learn to be 1/2 of you in this kind of thing. Really hope… Talk only, cannot go anywhere…

  77. Countries like Britain and even Singapore have a government fund which inventors can tap into if they are able to demonstrate the comercial viability of their products. It is hard to believe that Putra Jaya does not have a similar public fund to be used in the same manner.
    The problem in Malaysia is not inventors and innovative products; the problem is bureaucracy. Malaysian authorities are simply not interested in what products these innovators have to offer; they simply have no patience and no foresight. They want to see results instantly and return on their investments instantly.

Comments are closed.