KUALA LUMPUR: To achieve its goal to develop a biotechnology industry, Malaysia would need to train the relevant scientists, knowledge workers and find its own niche, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Government support and the output of qualified scientists trained in molecular science are absolutely essential, he said in his speech read out by Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding, the organising committee chairman of The 2006 Biotechnology Symposium - Developing Medical Biotechnology in Malaysia at Istana Hotel here yesterday (March 28, 2006).

Mahathir said biotechnology is expected to be a new base for industry and trade with great potential for wealth creation.

"But it is not the source of raw material that will do this. It is knowledge regarding the character and the molecular structure, the reaction of the complex molecules involved that will determine the worth of the new industries biotechnology will generate," he said.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Datuk Mohd Jarjis, who was also not present at the launch and whose speech was read out by his representative Datuk Suriah Abdul Rahman, said Malaysia has the opportunity to capture 0.4% of the worldÕs biotechnology market by 2010, based on the natural bioresources and strengths available in the country.

These include strong government support, excellent infrastructure for transport, communication and ICT, close government-industry collaboration and an established basic foundation in biotechnology, he said.