M'sian King On Working Visit To Antartica Nov 20-24

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin will make a working visit to Antartica from Nov 20-24. According to a statement from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Thursday, the visit is in conjunction with Malaysia's accession to the Antarctic Treaty 1959, on Oct 31, as a non-consultative member. Also on the trip will be Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili, Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) task force chairman Dr Salleh Mohd Nor and ASM fellow Prof Dr Azizan Abu Samah. Malaysia's involvement with Antartica started when Malaysia and Antigua & Barbuda highlighted the Antartica issue at the United Nations General Assembly in 1983. Malaysia's scientific and research involvement in Antartica started on Nov 19, 1997 when the Cabinet approved Malaysia's participation in scientific research there. A task force under the Malaysia Antarctic Research Programme (MARP) was then set up at ASM to encourage research in Antartica among Malaysian scientists. Following this, Malaysia's scientists and researchers started conducting research in Antartica in 1999. The MOSTI statement said 62 expeditions had been carried out until last year involving 60 researchers from seven institutions of higher learning. A total of 24 research projects in science, biology and physical science are being carried out by Malaysian scientists under the supervision of MARP. According to the statement, the king's visit to Scott Base is seen as strengthening Antartica scientific research cooperation as well as bilateral relations between Malaysia and New Zealand. Scott Base is a research facility operated by New Zealand in Antartica. MOSTI's statement also mentioned a parallel process being carried out to formulate a new act to meet an obligation under the Antartica Treaty to make Malaysia an Antarctic Treaty consultative country. The formulation of the act is being carried out by a working group headed by MOSTI. The draft of the act is expected to be finalised for tabling in parliament at the end of this year or early next year, according to the statement. -- BERNAMA