SIBU: The state government has allocated RM2 million for the establishment of the ‘Dr Wong Soon Kai Chair in Medical Device Technology’ in an effort to enhance research and development (R&D) at University Technology Sarawak (UTS).
“Dr Wong Soon Kai was a pioneer in the medical field so we want to honour his contribution to the state and we will name this chair after him,” said caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the official launch of UTS here on Wednesday (Nov 10).
He said the naming of the research chair in honour of the late former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai would depend on the family’s permission but he believed they would agree.
“As you know, the late Dr Wong Soon Kai was a renowned surgeon in Sibu,” he said.
Wong was the first Sarawakian to graduate as a surgeon in Britain in 1959.
He noted that Wong had also been classmates with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
The chief minister said the establishment of the research chair would allow research to be done, especially pertaining to medicine and technology.
“Funding for this chair will be sponsored by the state government through our Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) with a total of RM2 million,” he said.
On a separate matter, Abang Johari said investors from the United States had shown interest in producing medical equipment and medical products in Sarawak for the Asian market.
He said this interest had arisen as Sarawak was producing methanol which also resulted in many derivatives.
On Tuesday after visiting the Sarawak Petchem Methanol Project at Tanjung Kidurong in Bintulu, he had hinted that a very big investment for the state will be announced soon.
He said that investors were interested in investing in Sarawak due to the state’s competent people and political stability.
“They are very confident in that and therefore they are willing to invest here to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as medical instruments and devices. It is a huge investment,” he said.
