Background
BACKGROUND
Malaysia’s first involvement in polar research began when our former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad made a statement to the 37th Session of the United Nations General Assembly urging the United Nations to convene a meeting to determine the rights of all nations towards Antarctica. After the visit of Tun Dr. Mahathir to Antarctica the public had a flood of publicity on Antarctica through the media, which had opened the eyes of the public on the uniqueness of the continent. This has resulted also in an increase in the number of scientists expressing interest to undertake research in Antarctica.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak and former Minister of Home Affairs Tan Sri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar posing with the expedition banner (Photo accredited to The Star)
A taskforce on Malaysian Antarctic Research Program (MARP), under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation was formed to coordinate and plan Malaysia’s research in Antarctica. The Taskforce is responsible to formulate policy and broad scientific research programmes in Antarctica. Under the leadership of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor (Chairman, Academy Science Malaysia Task Force on Antarctic Research) and Professor Dato’ Dr. Azizan Abu Samah (National Technical Coordinator of MARP), MARP has broaden its scientific endeavours towards Arctic research.
Antarctica and Arctic are new and completely different world for those discovering them for the first time. Both Polar regions offer a unique and timely opportunity for Malaysia to embark into international research arena. Polar research can provide insight into processes of crucial Earth’s environment and climate. Therefore studying these regions may provide an early warning of important global changes. Scientists have found a wealth of information and have turned Antarctica and Arctic into a natural laboratory for scientific research. It is therefore important for Malaysia to be involved in Polar issues so that we can play an active role in the future use and management of these regions. For Malaysian scientists, it is a big challenge to study and subsequently explore the vast white continent where the temperature is extremely low and most of the time way below the freezing point.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is actively involved in biological research; our aim is to study any linkages, similarities or differences of biological processes between Polar environment and the Tropical environment. Our scientists being from a Tropical country have good knowledge on the Tropical environment, would be able to contribute to Polar science based upon their tropical experiences. In terms of global issues such as climate change, we hope to undertake research into the links between Antarctic, Arctic and Tropics. A qualitative policy study that use methodological triangulation to examine the needed steps towards institutionalization of Polar research has also carried out. Our group has developed a number of collaborations with local and international institutions, including Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Instituto Antartico Argentino, Polar Research Institute of China, Instituto Antartico Ecuatoriano and Polish Academy of Science. Our heartful thanks to ASM in general and MARP in particular, for giving us the opportunity to carry out Polar research.