BINTULU: The establishment of the Tok Nan Research Chair by Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) achieved an important milestone in protecting and advancing the rights of different ethnic groups while promoting ethnic diversity in Sarawak.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the scholarship and chair fund was used to set up Galeri Tok Nan to collect data on different ethnic groups in Sarawak.. 

"It is now evident that the cooperation of the ministry and UPM has brought success to both parties," he said at the Third International Conference on Science, Social Sciences and Humanities 2023 (ICOSSH 2023) here today.

The conference was officiated by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. 

He said the Sarawak Government is serious about collecting data on different ethnic minority groups in Sarawak. "Among the proud achievements is the increase in the number of ethnic groups in Sarawak from 27 to 31 and it is likely that the number will increase as there are ethnic groups that do not have their own identity. 

"Therefore, once again I congratulate the establishment of Kursi Tok Nan (Allahyarham Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) for this proud achievement.

"I am very heartened by the efforts of UPM and Tok Nan Chair to raise the dignity of UPMKB as a hub for ethnic herbal studies in this country," he explained. 

He said Sarawak has many unexplored natural resources and with the cooperation of the local community and researchers, they have gained more in-depth knowledge of the resources used to treat diseases. 

He explained that this is a recognition and he agreed that UPMKB through the Tok Nan Chair should set up a research hub to study local herbs used by different ethnic groups in Sarawak.

"Tok Nan is a well-known name in Sarawak and his sacrificial services to the country will be remembered forever. 

"The establishment of its research chair as an honour means that the ministry has agreed to extend the memorandum of agreement (MoA) until 2027 with an injection of RM3 million including the purchase of equipment needed for plant and herbal medicine research," he said.

UPM Academic and International Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ismi Arif Ismail said, the Tok Nan Research Chair took the initiative for Sarawak students to continue their studies to diploma to doctoral (PhD) level. 

To date, eight students have received the scholarship covering the period 2022-2023 and this is an ongoing effort to make UPMKB a leading ethnic research hub thus creating the Tok Nan Gallery in this campus.

He believes UPMKB pioneered ethnic studies in Sarawak, making the state a tourist destination showcasing its rich cultural heritage and traditions.

He said research findings identified Sarawak as having medicinal herbs that were widely used earlier by local communities for disease treatment. 

"Given UPM's expertise in biotechnology, this additional funding initiative can create UPMKB as an important research hub specifically for Sarawak's native herbal studies," he said. 

Date of Input: 29/09/2023 | Updated: 02/10/2023 | lanz