Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Malaysia)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation or MOSTI is the Malaysian ministry in charge of research, telecommunication
and information technology
. The current minister is Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili
.
It was created in 1973 by the federal government as the Ministry of Technology, Research and Local Government and was reformed in 1976 as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE). Following the cabinet
reshuffle of 2004, MOSTE evolved yet again to its current form.
The objective behind the creation of the ministry is to improve competitiveness in the fields of science and technology through the generation of knowledge and sustainable development.
Besides divisions and agencies of the federal government, MOSTI supervises companies set up by the government or through incorporation of a government body.
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
and information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
. The current minister is Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili
Maximus Ongkili
Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili is a Malaysian politician. He is the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation and the member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the seat of Kota Marudu in Sabah. He is a member of the United Sabah Party in the governing Barisan Nasional...
.
It was created in 1973 by the federal government as the Ministry of Technology, Research and Local Government and was reformed in 1976 as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE). Following the cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
reshuffle of 2004, MOSTE evolved yet again to its current form.
The objective behind the creation of the ministry is to improve competitiveness in the fields of science and technology through the generation of knowledge and sustainable development.
Agencies and institutions under the ministry
MOSTI controls and supervises a number of institutions that are responsible in providing technical services to the government and the public.| Agencies | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysian Centre For Remote Sensing (MACRES) | Remote sensing, telemetry, geographic information system (GIS) and research | Headquarters (HQ) in Kuala Lumpur and ground receiving station in Temerloh Temerloh Temerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River... , Pahang Pahang Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state... |
| National Science Centre | Promoting awareness, appreciation, interest and understanding of science and technology | Bukit Kiara Bukit Kiara Bukit Kiara is an affluent suburb of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The area is in proximity to the suburbs of Bukit Damansara, TTDI, Mont Kiara, Sri Hartamas and Bangsar. Bukit Kiara has often been described as the 'green lung' of Kuala Lumpur, boasting many jungle trails through its characteristic hills... , Kuala Lumpur |
| National Oceanography Directorate | Marine science and oceanography development | HQ in Putrajaya Putrajaya Putrajaya is a planned city, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas... |
| National Space Agency | Research and development of space science | HQ in Putrajaya Putrajaya Putrajaya is a planned city, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas... |
| Department of Chemistry Malaysia | Chemical analysis, investigation/forensic and consultancy services | HQ in Petaling Jaya Petaling Jaya Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a... , Selangor Selangor Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west... |
| Malaysia Nuclear Agency | Nuclear technology research and development | Bangi Bangi Bangi is a small town situated on the south of the district of Hulu Langat, in Selangor, Malaysia. It is roughly situated between the towns of Kajang and Putrajaya , and is linked to KTM Komuter commuter train services via the Bangi Komuter station... , Selangor. In possession of a TRIGA Mark II, 1 MW nuclear reactor since 1982 |
| Malaysian Meteorological Services | National meteorological monitoring services and natural disaster warning. | Central Forecast Office, Petaling Jaya Petaling Jaya Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a... , Selangor. 341 data-gathering stations nationwide |
| Department of Standards Malaysia | National standards and Accreditation body | HQ in Cyberjaya Cyberjaya Cyberjaya is a town with a science park as the core that forms a key part of the Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia. It is located in the district of Sepang, Selangor and is situated about 50 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia... |
| Atomic Energy Licencing Board | Control and supervision of radioactive material usage in industries. The board also checks and enforces safety rules. | HQ in Dengkil Dengkil Dengkil is a small yet well developed Malaysian town in the Sepang district of Selangor that lies between Cyberjaya to the north and Salak Tinggi to the south. In recent years, Dengkil has benefited from the growth of Putrajaya which is located nearby.... , Selangor |
Besides divisions and agencies of the federal government, MOSTI supervises companies set up by the government or through incorporation of a government body.
- MIMOS BhdMIMOSMIMOS Berhad is a strategic agency under purview of the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation . The agency is led by Dato’ Wahab Abdullah, who was appointed in July 2006, to become the premier applied research centre in frontier technologies; and transform the landscape of the...
(MIMOS) - Multimedia Development CorporationMultimedia Development CorporationThe Multimedia Development Corporation is a government-owned institution responsible for the management of the Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia as a technology industry and commerce zone....
(MDeC) - SIRIM BhdSirimSIRIM Berhad, formerly known as the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia , is a corporate organisation owned wholly by the Malaysian Government, under the Minister of Finance Incorporated...
(SIRIM) - Technology Park Malaysia Corporation Sdn BhdTechnology Park MalaysiaThe Technology Park Malaysia is Malaysia's most advanced and comprehensive centre for research and development for knowledge-based industries. Its total land area of 750 acres , comprises 12 state-of-the-art buildings each with specific functions...
(TPM) - Malaysia Biotechnology Corporation (MBC)
- Astronautic Technology Sdn BhdAstronautic Technology Sdn BhdAstronautic Technology Sdn Bhd or better known as ATSB was established in 1997 and is wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Inc under the supervision of the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation ....
(ATSB) - National ICT Security and Emergency Response Centre (NISER)
- Malaysia Network Information Centre (MYNIC)
- Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC)